County councillors urge reconsideration of refusal for Cork gas field exploration

“It doesn’t make sense to be paying other countries for oil and gas when we have it on our doorstep,” said County Cork Mayor Joe Carroll as he and a Fianna Fáil colleague called for the reconsideration of the rejection by previous environment minister, Eamon Ryan, of an exploration licence application for the Barryroe gas field at this week’s meeting of Cork County Council.

The West Cork councillor said that while he “fully” supported the previous minister’s efforts to meet emission targets, he was also considering threats to our security in terms of undersea cables and pipelines.

Barrels of oil

His party colleague, Patrick Gerard Murphy, said that there was “something like 350 million barrels of oil in the gas field”.

“We’re all aware of climate change but whether the barrel of oil comes out of Russia or Kinsale or Barryroe, it’s insignificant,” he said.

“Last year, in terms of energy security, over 40% came from oil and gas imported into this country when we have a ready made source out there which is only actually 1.9 miles from the Old Head gas pipe line.”

Support

While there was support for this motion calling on the current environment minister to review the licence rejection from across the aisles, Social Democrats councillors Eamon Horgan and Isobel Towse both opposed the proposal.

“This goes against all the council has been doing so far in promotion of climate initiatives, it goes against the programme for Government. It is a retrograde step,” said Mr Horgan.

 “The most problematic issue in the council in my time here has been flooding. All proven to be exacerbated by man-made climate change. You cannot come in here decrying the effects of flooding all while supporting the future extraction of oil and gas.”