If Shell wins in Mayo, will Kerry face similar problem?

WHILE many people are aware of the financial and environmental scandal that is taking place off the cost of Mayo, they are probably unaware that Exxon Mobil has been given extensive exploration rights off the coast of Kerry, valued at up to €20 billion.

Drilling has yet to start, but seismic exploration has already pinpointed two large oil and gas prospects 200 miles south-west of the Kerry coast in the Dunquin field.

Tony O’Reilly’s company, Providence Resources, which has a stake in the find, estimated that it could contain over 25 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas and over four billion barrels of oil — a significant find even by international standards. Last year the Government gave Providence Resources and Sosina Exploration of Scotland the rights to explore and exploit the Dunquin field. Now these two companies have given US corporate giant Exxon Mobil an 80% share in the project while they keep the remaining 20% (7.25% is owned personally by Tony O’Reilly).