Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

-----we must increase the rate of exploration activity off our coast. Senator Crown makes a fair point in pointing to peak oil and to the folly of relying on hydrocarbons and so on. However, I am sure he will agree on reflection that it is not an argument, while we are moving to increase our renewable capacity, not to avail of resources if they are out there. There are some who claim that such resources would wipe out the national debt with a stroke and that we would be pumping oil and gas into Dalkey in no time at all if it were not for the recalcitrance of the Minister and the Government.