Turning the spotlight on Irish oil dreams

Your paper carries interesting news on oil exploration in Irish waters.

It would seem an opportune moment to ask some serious questions of Government before the next licensing round begins.

Whitegate Refinery is up for sale with a rather ominous tag ‘too small and not competitive’. Is this, then, the death-knell for refining here, leaving us with another storage silo? Present reports are that Barryroe will be producing oil in 3/4 years’ time.

Apparently the plan is to pump directly from the well into giant tankers for refining in continental Europe.

What has happened to that initial dream of Government – surely communicated to oil companies — that, in the event of a lucratively commercial find there would be a bonanza for Ireland — employment, refining and other developments?

If my predictions are correct, then things look very bleak for Ireland on the ‘oil front’, and we will have sold our heritage.

Are there echoes here of other catastrophes — the sugar beet fiasco, betrayal by the banks, closure of Haulbowline (our last steel recycling unit), and nothing by way of assistance from our rich waters stemming massive unemployment and emigration.

Finally, may I ask about shale-fracking and methane-hydrate exploration and if there is a Government policy on these?

P A O’Donoghue

Dromahane

Mallow

Cork