Image: Shutterstock/curraheeshutter Image: Shutterstock/curraheeshutter A MAJORITY OF the Dáil voted to ban oil and gas drilling in Irish waters today, despite government opposition.
It aims to stop the issuing of any new licences for the exploration of fossil fuels, something Costa Rica, Belize and France have already implemented. Today’s Dáil approval means the Bill should now proceed to Select Committee stage, said TD Bríd Smith, who added this would bring it one step closer to becoming law.The government maintain the Bill is unworkable and forces Ireland to rely on imported oil and gas from abroad.Junior Minister Sean Canney was criticised by environmentalists last year for commenting about the benefits of oil and gas exploration off the coast of Ireland.
He said Ireland imported 100% of the country’s oil needs in 2017, while for gas, it was a much lower figure of 34%, largely because of the addition of the Corrib gas field in late 2015.
The government has a history of handing Irish natural resources to the lowest bidder. Plus, can't be having a country in the EU with financial independence now, can we?
Dopes
Dumb move
Cough cough...Norway.....cough cough
This government has s gone useless ?
What's the realistic alternative, its not wind or some other mystical source.
Better to leave it in the ground than give it away with “Hollywood” contracts.
Wonderful
Logic for a change, Gov commits to reduce use of fossil fuels & push for a carbon tax yet wants to allow companies to keep looking for it for profit. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Ridiculous. What a shambles!
Yea let's not clear our national debt and become another Norway. Madness