Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply but, in fairness, the Barryroe field has massive potential. I do not think he has researched it properly. Is he aware that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has refused point blank to meet with those from the Corrib and Barryroe fields? Does the Taoiseach agree with that? If the Minister will not meet with the industry because of his own beliefs, will the Taoiseach meet with them or consider appointing a Minister for energy who will listen to the alternatives that lie off the Irish coast and will enhance our energy supply? The Taoiseach referred to renewables. It will be a very long time before the fishing boats of Courtmacsherry, Union Hall, Schull and Castletownbere, the farm equipment of the farmers supplying Barryroe Co-operative or the milk tankers delivering milk to the Carbery Group, winner of Cork company of the year, will be powered by renewable energy.

It is time for the Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil Deputies to leave the fantasy energy world of a failing Green Party and come into the real world of energy security. In July 1942, in this House, his political hero, the great Seán Lemass, the then Minister for Supplies, said:

The facts must be faced. There must be no more self-deception in this country. We have all lived too long in a fool's paradise and it has taken a world war to awaken us to a sense of reality.

In this time of another war, will the Taoiseach take his advice and extend the Barryroe licence?

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