Madam, – In an otherwise excellent commentary on the Corrib gas dispute (Opinion, February 16th), Fintan O’Toole writes that the “terms under which Shell got ownership of the gas field are unacceptable: this has been tacitly acknowledged by the Government in the way it has altered those terms for the future”, implying the wholesale giveaway of Ireland’s oil and gas has been stemmed.
Unfortunately, the 2007 reforms by Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan were virtually meaningless. The much-trumpeted change from 25 to 40 per cent applies only to very profitable fields, which are rare. Corrib would not have fallen into this category. And crucially, it is only the tax rate that is changing. The State share in these natural resources remains at zero per cent; royalties remain at zero per cent. And the companies can still write off 100 per cent of their costs before paying this tax.
Finally, the reforms are not retrospective: all licences already granted are not affected. Tragically for a nation close to bankruptcy, most of our gas and oil fields have already been given away. It’s not too late to change this. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Here we go again with the Corrib gas saga (Fintan O’Toole, Opinion, February 16th). Bord Pleanála has not yet given a decision, only sought further clarifications in their letter to all interested parties dated November 2nd 2009, a process which is ongoing.
It is amazing that Mr O’Toole in referring to the Garda involvement in enforcing the law and the Ombudsman decision in one case, sees fit not to mention a word about the protesters, one of whom a Circuit Court judge described only last week as being involved in vigilante-type activity, describing another as a thug and a bully.
They are not protecting free speech or the right to protest – they break the criminal law of the land. The application for the onshore pipeline meets the best international standards and practices, and the official in Mr Ryan’s department had great courage to point this out in his letter to An Bord Pleanála in the best traditions and independence of the civil service.
What is at issue here is the technical advice available to the board as against the contrary advice of Advantica in 2005, and the best practices which are applied here. No one can ever guarantee an accident or earthquake won’t happen.
Every day I see transatlantic aircraft pass over the general area of this project as there is a tracking station at Glengad. Would anyone contend they should be banned lest they crash with fatal consequences , a scenario which is analogous to what some people seem to imply?
At this time in our economic woes the bar should not be set so high for Shell or any other company trying to set up here as to scare potential investors away. This is view of our group, an unpaid voluntary organisation. – Yours, etc,