Professor John FitzGerald:

There is a technical issue to which I do not know the answer. Can one say one can drill for gas but not for oil? Gas has certain benefits but I cannot see that more oil will benefit climate change. I should clarify that in terms of gas by 2050 there should be net zero emissions and the carbon dioxide produced by burning the gas should be pumped back into the ground, probably into the empty Kinsale gas field. I do not know what the answer is. I am not sure whether one can say one can drill for gas but not for oil. If one cannot do so is one better saying drill for nothing? I would want technical advice on that. We have not considered the matter.