The Government has been accused of "utter hypocrisy" on climate change after it blocked a Bill seeking to ban oil and gas exploration in Irish waters.

Mandy Johnston, a former government press secretary and adviser to the taoiseach, has been appointed chief executive of the representative organisation for the Irish oil and gas exploration sector.

The Petroleum and Other Minerals (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018, which is undergoing Oireachtas scrutiny, has heightened discussion around Ireland’s energy requirements.

The Government, more than external issues like Brexit and oil price movement, will ultimately be to blame if Ireland’s much-touted offshore oil and gas exploration sector fails to bear real fruit, writes Geoff Percival

The main representative body for Irish exploration firms has suggested the Government should review its fiscal and taxation terms for oil and gas finds within the next 12 months.

British exploration firm Europa Oil and Gas is hopeful of landing a development partner for licences it holds off the Irish coast before the end of the year.

Big businesses have significant access to Brussels-based officials of the Irish Government to promote their corporate agenda, according to transparency campaigners.

Big businesses have significant access to Brussels-based officials of the Irish Government to promote their corporate agenda, according to transparency campaigners.

Low prices pose major challenge for sector, writes Geoff Percival.   

The Government has said there is no need to readdress last year’s altered fiscal terms for exploration firms active in Irish waters, despite this year’s dramatic drop in oil prices.

The main representative body for Irish oil and gas exploration firms wants to see more incentives for marginal field operators, as well as a lowering of the corporate tax rate for such companies, included in the Finance Bill later in the year.

The Government has launched its first offshore licensing round for three years, adding that its revised fiscal terms for incoming operators should encourage new investment in Irish waters.

Eddie Hobbs has picked his latest target, the oil industry, and is planning on putting a movement together to try and change Ireland’s attitude to offshore oil and gas.

The coming year is set to be another interesting one in terms of the development of Ireland’s much mooted, though still largely unproven, offshore oil and gas potential.

The main representative body for Ireland’s exploration industry has called for the Government to hold back on plans to increase the potential tax take from companies drilling for oil and gas in Irish waters.

Irish onshore and offshore oil and gas reserves could be worth more than €2tn, writes John Hearne

An updated technical study of the Drombeg exploration prospect off the west coast — which is 80% owned by Providence Resources — suggests that the field is larger and of more significance than initially thought.

The “giveaway” of the country’s oil and gas resources should be ended by placing a tax of up to 80% on petroleum discovered off Irish shores.

A STRATEGY change on oil and gas exploration licensing off the west coast opening up a record amount of acreage for development is expected to result in fresh drilling activity.

THE Irish Offshore Operators’ Association (IOOA), the representative body for the country’s offshore oil and gas exploration industry, has warned of the continuing fragility of gas supply to western Europe, and particularly Ireland.

AN BÓRD PLEANÁLA yesterday denied it had compromised its independence by meeting with members of the Corrib gas consortium before the controversial project was given final planning approval.

AN BORD Pleanála was not subjected to any external pressure in relation to the €900 million Corrib Gas project, the head of the authority said yesterday.