Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sometimes I wonder why people and parties which have good plans and policies, as soon as they enter government with a larger party have those good plans and policies watered down. I do not know whether it happens during the negotiations around forming the Government or if it is a question of continuing as before with the Civil Service; that phenomenon could probably be called civil subservience. However, the Minister will recall that in the 1970s there was an active campaign seeking reform of the tax take from oil and gas.

A former Labour Party Minister, Mr. Justin Keating, introduced a 50% maximum stake in any commercial find, production royalties of 8% to 16% and bonuses on particularly significant finds. These terms were dismantled by Mr. Ray Burke and Mr. Bertie Ahern-----

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