Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

I was a member of the committee that drew up the report. The concept behind it was to look at where we are and at the difficulties we have had and to try to address them. We believed the best way of going about that was to look at where there were significant successes. Obviously, Norway was, and is, a great success. We made the effort to meet the Norwegian ambassador and a representative of the oil ministry of Norway whose contribution was invaluable in helping us to come up with the report we did.

As will probably emerge in the debate, we recommended a minimum take of 50%, on a scaled version up to 80%, judged on the size of the discoveries. Much has been said in debates throughout the years to the effect that the success rate in this country does not entice people here. However, part of what we discovered in our deliberations with the Norwegian ambassador and the oil ministry representative is that one of the biggest discoveries Norway made was last year and which came about by a return to what was described as a "dry hole" that had been drilled previously, capped and left. Those involved went back, drilled a further 20 metres and had the biggest slice they ever had. I know from my own experience off the west coast of Ireland there are a number of potential finds that have been capped and left. Perhaps at some stage people may return to them.

Another significant point-----

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