Squandering resources

HOW can the Government justify the levies, redundancies, pay and spending cuts to claw back a few billion, while giving away state property worth over €€5 trillion?

I refer of course to our oil and gas resources — the value of which has been downplayed by the oil companies for decades in order to secure the current terms and conditions of exploration and production.

Our resources could pay off the national debt, make us independent in our energy supply, and prevent the multinationals from using our environment as a doormat on the way into the national treasure chest.