Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The Deputy has had his say. The position is that it is in the interests of the nation to maximise the economic benefit of whatever resources are at its disposal. It is also in the nation's interest to bring those resources to shore by whatever means possible and as quickly as possible. There appears to be a reluctance in certain quarters to do this but that is a matter for another occasion.

It is important to recognise that if the Government wanted to invest in the drilling equipment required, then it would be obliged to have some answers for the people if it did not produce the desired results. It is as simple as that. At a time when the country is broke, there is no point in telling the people that a well was unsuccessful or that a find was not commercially viable. If we had resources to squander on exploration, then by all means we would proceed.

How should we move forward? The Government is taking the correct approach.

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