Oil and Gas extraction must be for
the benefit of the people of Ireland – Michael Colreavy TD
3 July, 2014 - by Michael Colreavy TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Michael Colreavy TD has said that
Ireland’s oil and gas extraction must be for the benefit of the people of
Ireland, not for the benefit of private industry.
Speaking in the Dáil on the review of
Ireland’s oil and gas fiscal system, Deputy Colreavy said:
“There is a common misconception
amongst the public that Ireland needs its low oil and gas taxation in order to
promote exploration and develop our oil and gas industry.
“Successive Irish governments and the
oil industry lobby have propagated this myth for many years.
“However, Ireland’s offshore oil and
gas reserves have the long term potential to be a significant source of revenue
for the economy.
“According to a 2006 report carried
out by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources there is
approximately 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent off our western coast,
composed of 6.5 billion barrels of oil and 20 trillion cu. ft. of gas.
“As new technologies emerge and
develop, along with the rising price of oil and gas, reserves that were
previously dismissed are now becoming commercially viable.
“The changes to the fiscal regime
announced recently by Minister Rabbitte are welcome in some respects.
“It shows that those who protested
against Ireland’s poor tax terms on offshore oil and gas have been proved
correct.
“The increase of the maximum rate of
PRRT falls far short of what the report carried out by the then Committee on
Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture proposed in 2012.
“The Minister should examine all the
conditions placed on oil and gas companies who wish to operate in Ireland and
introduce a progressive system which benefits the people of Ireland.”
Sinn Féin Mountmellick
– Serving The Community
Future of Rural Ireland - Matt Carthy
MEP
3 July, 2014 - by Matt Carthy MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has secured
a position on the important Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee in the
European Parliament. Speaking in Strasbourg following his appointment he said
that the future of rural Ireland depends on a strong network of family farms.
Cllr Carthy said:
“I intend to use my position on the
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee to secure results for Rural Ireland.
Rural communities have been particularly impacted by austerity and lack of
infrastructural investment in recent years.
“The future of rural Ireland depends
on a strong network of family farms. The development of a thriving agriculture
sector needs farmers- farmers who are confident and supported in their work both by central government and by Europe.
“Recent CAP changes have
repercussions for Irish farmers and I will try to ensure that those in the most
disadvantaged areas are not only protected but encouraged and incentivised to
continue farming. I will also be engaging with Minister Coveney in a bid to
ensure that some of the more impractical and unfair elements of his own
roll-out of the Rural development plan are addressed.
“Historically, CAP has favoured a
small minority of recipients who received the lion’s share of the Single Farm Payment
without having any greater productivity than those on lower payments. Sinn Féin
supports the re-establishment of the principles of CAP: food security and fair
prices.
“We need a better deal for all of
rural Ireland. It is vital that budgets are maintained in the coming years and
that implementation of the CAP regime includes a significant redistribution of
funds towards the majority of farmers, many of whom are struggling to maintain
a viable income.
“Above all, I intend to use my
position on the Agriculture & Rural Development committee to stand up for
Rural Ireland’s interest at all times and to defend the right of small family
farms to earn a decent living.”
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
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