Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am afraid I cannot accept the amendments. To respond to the questions and concerns, this did not come from any provision of the Energy Charter Treaty. It has not impacted in any way on the Government's decision making regarding the ending of new oil or gas exploration licences. The Senator is correct that many of these developments come from the political sphere, such as the ban on fracking or the restriction on State investment in fossil fuels. I recall my party publishing a Bill, on the same day that Deputy Bríd Smith happened to publish one, in which we set out that we would seek in government to deliver what we are delivering with the Bill, that is, an end to oil and gas exploration and new licences. We said at the time - it must have been four or five years ago - that we recognised that when the State enters into licence arrangements or agreements with companies or individuals, we honour our commitments. In other words, we do not reverse engines; ours is a country where the rule of law applies and where the Government is good to its word insofar as it can be. In those circumstances, I do not believe it is appropriate for us to take a different approach in this area.The reality is that our waters have not been hugely successful for oil and gas exploration. There have been three or four commercial developments over 40 or 50 years of exploration. Prior to the removal of allowing any new licences to be issued at the end of 2019, there were approximately 55 authorisations. By the end of last year, that figure was down to 30. I expect the decrease to continue because those licences were not likely to be commercial and were speculative in the first place. It is unlikely that there will be further commercial developments. I could be proved wrong under an existing licence, no one knows, but there will be no new licences and that is the radical shift and change.

This approach is similar to other countries. Denmark has entered into a similar proposal. It has a much larger oil and gas exploration industry and allows a longer wind-down lead time, but it is a similar approach. Prospecting licences are part of the overall exploration licence, as are ability-to-lease arrangements or other undertakings, but they are not new exploration licences. We are, effectively, divesting and this is highly significant. We were one of the first countries to do this. It is a huge win from an environmental perspective. It is one of the ways in which Ireland is starting to show leadership.

Nothing should distract from what is, from an environmental perspective, a very good day and story. Those of us in the political system are now delivering on our commitments and promises. As for the approach proposed by us when we were in opposition, I tend to follow through in government, which is what we are doing today. Consequently, I cannot accept the amendments.