Professor Barry McMullin:

Of course, in a geopolitically very fractious century, which is what we have ahead of us no matter what way you cut it, energy is fundamental to societal welfare, so securing energy supply is essential. I could go back to the emergency during the Second World War, when the lack of energy supply was devastating to Irish society. That is very important and indigenous supply, insofar as possible, is the best answer to that. We know where the wind is and we know it is low carbon. We know also where the sun is and when it is there and we know it is low carbon. In the case of the fossil fuels, we kind of know something is there, although we do not really know how much or what it will cost to bring it onshore. The societal licence for that is certainly questionable, even if it could be brought onshore.

I really think the strategic interest of Ireland is absolutely in indigenous energy and not in indigenous fossil energy.