Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is inevitable that all oil fields will cease production at some stage. The gasfield sites in Kinsale and Ballycotton are operated by PSE Kinsale Energy off the coast of Cork through annual lease rental fees and royalties payable to the State. The direct financial return to the State from the Seven Heads gasfield operated off the coast is through annual lease rental fees and corporation tax of 25%. This is coming to the end of its working life which is why there are options and licences looking at alternatives for exploration. We will continue to do that. Some 28 licences were issued this year which is the highest ever. I hope we will see oil or gas struck from those licences.

The Minister, Deputy Naughten, might comment on the Whitegate issue.