asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the American Government is developing submarine devices which will make it possible for teams of experts to carry out research and exploration regarding oil, gas and mineral resources in underwater areas; and if, in view of this, he will arrange for the training of Irish nationals in this work, through a lend-lease arrangement of men and equipment with the American Government so as to investigate and exploit the potential of Ireland's area of the continental shelf.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Underwater Exploration.
42.
The Government do not propose to participate directly in the exploration and development of the natural resources of the continental shelf but to make adequate facilities for such activities available to reputable companies, with the necessary financial resources and technical expertise. It is not proposed to enter into an arrangement of the kind suggested by the Deputy.
Does the Minister not consider that there is in the continental shelf an area of development of potential wealth which could be of tremendous importance to the country, that there may very well be off our shores, in the continental shelf, minerals which could add considerably to the national wealth? In view of that, is the Minister satisfied that he is doing enough to exploit the situation simply by saying that any company which comes along and wants to develop these resources will be permitted to do so after examination by his officials? Does he not consider that the Government have a responsibility to get moving in this sphere and to study what is being done in America or elsewhere in the world in regard to this type of development?
We cannot have a debate.
Surely I am entitled to ask as a supplementary question what are the reasons why the Minister is simply relegating this matter to some hazy future development by, possibly, outside sources? Have we not had enough bitter experience of some of the outside sources of exploitation and development? What I am trying to say is that it is time the State took the initiative in this most important matter.
I have not, of course, said, as the Deputy alleged in his supplementary question, that any company that comes along will get facilities. What I have said is that facilities would be made available to reputable companies with the necessary financial resources and technical expertise. The principle involved in this is just the same as the principle involved in the exploration of our mineral resources on land. It has already been demonstrated that we have considerable resources and, indeed, we may well have many more than we are at present aware of. But the Deputy will be aware from his knowledge and also from replies to similar questions recently that as far as the development, exploration and exploitation of resources on land are concerned, the efforts made by the State in the past were not successful and, on the other hand, when we adopted the policy which we are following at present of making available licences and leases for exploration and giving tax incentives to companies who have the technical expertise and the financial resources, this policy is the one that has paid off; this is the one that has led to the enormous developments in mining and the development of mineral resources on land. The principle involved as far as the continental shelf is concerned is exactly the same except that in that case the hazards involved are even greater, the chances of failure are greater and the financial resources necessary are also greater.
The Minister has said that this policy has paid off. Is it not a fact that it has paid off because of the absence of any other policy whatsoever? Nothing else has been tried.
That is not true.
What has been tried?
I have already pointed out to the Deputy that we did in the past before, during and after the last War, operate on the basis of the State doing it through Mianraí Teoranta and it was not successful.
These were different days—a quarter of a century ago.
Does the Minister believe that there is anything to be learned from the lessons of the British Tory Government which sold all their rights in the North Sea to private companies and, gas having been discovered, are now in the unfortunate predicament that these private companies will charge artificially high prices for the gas so obtained and that it may not be too fantastic to suggest that any gas or other minerals discovered in this area will be inflated pricewise because the State has been too laggard or too lazy to investigate and exploit this area itself?
It is, of course, possible that we may discover natural gas in our continental shelf but the Deputy will also be aware that we might not discover it and might have to spend many millions of pounds to discover that it was not there. The Deputy might have another tale to tell if we were spending money in that regard— millions of pounds—with nothing to show for it.
Let us limit their concessions, not give them the whole thing.
Who said that we were giving them the whole thing?
Could we do worse than we did with some of the entrepreneurs we have let in here and have subsidised?
We have done extremely well as far as mining is concerned through the development by private companies.
The Deputy's former leader let them in first.
He established the Industrial Development Authority for which you have often tried to steal the credit. Is that what you mean?
Fianna Fáil had their Moses at that time.
Question No. 43.
Fianna Fáil opposed it. You allowed companies to come in here who ignored our traditions—what EI is doing at the present time—gave them a million dollars and carte blanche.
Will Deputy Dunne please cease interrupting? Question No. 43.