Professor Barry McMullin:

I would encourage the committee to consider having a session exclusively on energy security, which is a big topic. We have shorter-term energy security - the sudden interruptions Dr. Deane spoke about earlier - but then there is the longer-term chronic insecurity, which, as a result of import dependence, this State has suffered since virtually its foundation.

By diversifying our supply routes, particularly for natural gas, which currently is a critical component in our energy system, LNG superficially offers a way of easing what is a worsening security of supply situation for us, particularly as the Corrib field becomes depleted. That said, there is no long-term story in that regard. The long-term story is all bad. We must address our energy security situation. Ireland is incredibly rich in non-carbon energy supply because of our access to the western seaboard, especially in the context of wind energy, but we have to crack the nut of very large-scale storage. In terms of strategic research interest for Ireland, we have an overwhelming interest from both an economic and energy security point of view. It is overwhelming that we would want to do that.