Lowest-hanging fruit could cost us the most

At a time of economic crisis, just like the one we are in right now, it’s easy for short-term decisions to be taken that have the potential to have dangerous long-term repercussions.

On the one hand, geologists’ estimates that there are gas deposits in the area centred on Co Leitrim totalling 9.4 trillion cubic metres (worth north of €120bn) is good news for the Government.

One of the companies, Tamboran, has suggested that there is a 75% chance of successful extraction.