Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps some of the other guests can answer. There has been talk of price signals and all of the rest. What signal do we send to an industry when we say we are open to receiving applications to drill for oil off our coast? These are the same companies. In fairness, Professor FitzGerald has accurately pointed out the level of economists who supported the carbon tax but they are also supported by BP, Shell, Exxon and all the major oil companies. Indeed, the measure is supported in the United States because it focuses on that point. What signal is conveyed when we say we are open to drilling for fossil fuels, while at the same time we put on paper the need to ask individuals? This plan asks individuals to dig into their own pockets and invest in different motor vehicles or to upgrade their homes to do their bit for the environment when the Department overseeing the plan still says we are still open to drilling for fossil fuels?