Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

May I finish? I did not interrupt the Deputy and it is important to have complete clarity on the issue. The process has started and the companies in question will return by the end of the year with a view as to what they think they have found, after which they will proceed to the next stage when I will have to give due consideration to all the arguments made. When that stage is reached, I will be advised by the EPA. The latter is already carrying out a desktop study and is committed to carrying out a much more detailed analysis by the end of the year. The analysis in question was not carried out prior to the licences being issued by the former Minister of State, Conor Lenihan. The difficulty is that we cannot turn back the clock in respect of this issue. I assure the Deputy that any decisions I make will be based on the best advice available from the EPA and internationally.

If there is a chance that billions of euro in untapped gas could be brought to the surface and thereby provide a massive boost to the economy, then we must take account of that fact. If it became possible to create thousands of jobs in my constituency or that of the Deputy and in view of the fact that we import most of our energy, then that prospect would be worthy of serious consideration. I accept the point the Deputy made in respect of renewables and I will be happy to debate the matter further with him at any stage.

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