Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

We need to be able to pin it down because the extent of our reliance on a gas pipeline from elsewhere is not the ideal situation to be in. If we could get the liquified natural gas project under way down in the Deputy's neck of the woods in Tarbert this would be a contribution and bringing the Corrib gas on stream would also make a contribution. However, unfortunately, at the moment, because of events in Libya, the nuclear accident in Japan - a country which will have a voracious appetite for gas - because nuclear reactors are being shut down in mainland Europe and because China has an endless demand for gas, therefore, unlike the situation in the other Continent, in the United States, prices are trending upwards here. The use of shale gas in the US means prices have come down there. It does not seem to be having any effect on Europe, where market power is continuing to keep prices up.

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