More than a third of oil and gas exploration companies active in Irish waters are finding it difficult to source partners to develop their licences here.

The current regulatory framework underpinning Ireland’s burgeoning oil and gas sector is not fit for purpose and is insufficiently structured to facilitate or attract large scale developments, a new industry survey has claimed.

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

Overwhelming positivity over the future of the construction industry is being tempered by a severe lack of finance with almost two-thirds of industry leaders citing it as the biggest impediment to growth.