Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

We can surely do something. There is no need to tie the hands of the Dáil for 15 years. If the companies are cute, this is exactly what they will get. They may even get 19 years. We are giving them something for which they need not do anything except promise to drill. Even after this, they do not need to drill. Why not give them licences for only five years as, at present, they do not need to decide to do anything with them? Why tie up all our resources for so much time? Can something not be done? People are suffering.

The Minister said that the number of hits is small. In fact, the number is quite high. When one considers what can be done in Norway, which owns 25% of the Corrib gas field, why can we not do the same? Some people say the Minister should not have given those licences as the companies were doing nothing for them.

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