Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Celtic Sea is like a pincushion at this stage. We must have gone into the Celtic Sea 100 times. The best geologist I know, Colin Campbell, lives in west Cork and he worked for BP. He is an old man now but he worked at the height of the exploration industry here. They thought they were going to find all sorts of everything but he said we are just geologically unlucky because, unfortunately, we do not have the formation they have in the North Sea. It is all a gamble. All the talk about the great prospects there usually come from people who are trying to raise money to spend and get a good cut for themselves in the process. I am not saying that about the Department, but he is the best geologist I have ever heard and he says, unfortunately, there is nothing out there.