John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept that leaving the oil or gas in the ground is the answer. The cost benefit analyses in respect of the Corrib gas line found it would be important to bring the gas ashore. That would create many jobs but as Members said this morning, if we bring it ashore we need to take account of the sensitivities involved. We need to learn lessons from what has happened and make decisions based on what is before us. We also need to take into account the importance of finding gas and oil at a time when we import 100% of our oil and 70% of our gas.

See this speech in context