Michael Collins: Calls to Meet Company Over Barry Royal Field
Michael Collins addressed the Dáil urging the government to meet the company behind the Barry Royal field to assess a plan that could supply a significant portion of Ireland's gas and crude needs and be integrated with renewables. He framed the request as a pragmatic call for discussion, not an automatic approval to drill, after recent energy disruptions highlighted Ireland's reliance on imports.
Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and ministers to meet the company that has previously sought an exploratory licence for the Barry Royal field. He said preliminary checks indicate the field may have the potential to generate up to 45 percent of Ireland's gas and crude oil needs and argued that a meeting is necessary to explore how any development could be tied to a renewables transition and state benefit.
Collins recalled that the company applied for an exploratory licence in 2021 and that Minister Eamon Ryan refused that application. He acknowledged the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021, which restricts acceptance of new petroleum authorisations, and noted there are a limited number of existing licences around the country.
The Tánaiste told the Dáil she will ask Minister O'Brien to consider meeting with the company and to respond to Deputy Collins directly. She reiterated the legal constraints from the 2021 Act but said a renewable element to any proposal could be considered for engagement.
Collins framed the request as a pragmatic step in light of recent supply shocks, arguing Ireland needs measures that protect energy security today while accelerating renewable deployment for the long term. The exchange highlights tensions between legal climate commitments, political decisions made in 2021, and current concerns over energy independence and state benefit.
Request to Government:
Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and ministers to meet the company that has previously sought an exploratory licence for the Barry Royal field. He said preliminary checks indicate the field may have the potential to generate up to 45 percent of Ireland's gas and crude oil needs and argued that a meeting is necessary to explore how any development could be tied to a renewables transition and state benefit.
Legal and political context:
Collins recalled that the company applied for an exploratory licence in 2021 and that Minister Eamon Ryan refused that application. He acknowledged the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021, which restricts acceptance of new petroleum authorisations, and noted there are a limited number of existing licences around the country.
Government response:
The Tánaiste told the Dáil she will ask Minister O'Brien to consider meeting with the company and to respond to Deputy Collins directly. She reiterated the legal constraints from the 2021 Act but said a renewable element to any proposal could be considered for engagement.
Implications for policy and energy security:
Collins framed the request as a pragmatic step in light of recent supply shocks, arguing Ireland needs measures that protect energy security today while accelerating renewable deployment for the long term. The exchange highlights tensions between legal climate commitments, political decisions made in 2021, and current concerns over energy independence and state benefit.
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Transcript
This past month Ireland has seen the damage we have done to our own economy by not being energy independent. We import fossil fuel and now we know how delicate this is. One major disruption and Ireland goes dry. Yes, we all know we must steer away from fossil fuels to renewables, but Tánaiste, you know for today, tomorrow and for the very long future time, tractors, lorries, Himex will need fossil fuel to keep the country going. Since I came into the Dáil I've been calling for the exploration of the Barry Royal field. Minor checks look positive that it has the potential to create 45% of our gas and crude oil which could even be more. This could be a chance to sell us to renewables and meet all the targets which are not realistic at this present pace we are going. In 2021 the company sought a licence to do exploratory drill. This was refused by Minister Eamonn Ryan. Now that we are in a time of real crisis will this government meet with the company and hear their proposals. I am not asking you to say yes to drill. Just meet, see how we can tie in renewables into the proposed plan for Barry Royal and how the state can benefit also. Thank you very much to Deputy Collins for raising this matter on foot. If you are raising it I will certainly ask the relevant Minister, Minister O'Brien, to consider your request in relation to meeting. It will be for him to consider that. I do know from a factual point of view the Law, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act of 2021 does set out changes in relation to not accepting new applications for petroleum authorisations nor any future petroleum exploration licensing rounds. There are a number of existing licences, I think 16 in total across the country, sorry 13, excuse me, 13 across the country. But if you are talking about a renewable element to this I will certainly ask the Minister to consider engaging and to come back to you directly.