We should reclaim our fuel resources

FOSSIL fuel exploration, refinement and use causes ecological destruction and supports our most dangerous and anti-social modes of transport.

The policy of building more roads instead of refurbishing our disused train lines will ensure our over-dependence on fossil fuels for decades to come.

If we are going to rely on our own fossil fuel resources, the very least we can do is reclaim ownership of them. Under current terms, oil and gas reserves in Irish territory are 100% owned by the oil companies that find them. There is no State participation and no royalties are due to it.

Corrib gas, and all subsequent finds, will be traded at world market prices (which will keep climbing).

Even the new top tax rate of 40% (which doesn’t apply to Corrib) is lower than the 50% the State would have received a few decades ago.

Paul Lynch

Middle Square

Macroom

Co Cork