Time to bring on the energy tribunal

IN a leading question to Eamon Ryan (August 4), T Smyth expects the Corrib Gas field to “secure our future” in the face of rising energy costs.

This is a reasonable assumption as the Constitution states that the resources of Ireland belong to the people of Ireland.

However, citizens hoping to benefit from our natural resources should be reminded that the head of Bord Gáis Energy Supply has already stated that Corrib will make no difference to the price Irish people will pay for gas.

After Ray Burke abolished state royalties, state participation in oil and gas exploration and any state stake hold on commercial finds when he was minister for energy, successive governments have practically been giving away our resources to the oil companies.

Dick Spring called this move “an act of economic treason”.

To add insult to injury our former Minister for Finance, Bertie Ahern, needlessly reduced the corporation tax from 50% to 25%, with a 100% tax write-off for production, development and exploration. Even Eamon Ryan’s cosmetic changes to the tax rate last year won’t apply retrospectively to Corrib.

So what are we, the people of Ireland, getting out of it?

* Imprisonment for five Mayo men in 2005 when they refused to obey compulsory purchase orders on their land for a project that benefits the state in no way.

* Pollution from a refinery located 8km inland to avoid costs of processing at sea.

* A high pressure raw gas pipeline to be bulldozed through communities, Special Areas of Conservation and known landslide zones.

* A garda overtime bill of €€11 million (and rising) for enforcement.

The next question is what have the politicians received for their seemingly unending generosity to the oil companies?

Bring on the energy tribunal.

Paul Lynch

Middle Square

Macroom

Co Cork