Campaigns // We Only Want the Earth!

“We declare the right of the Irish people to the ownership of Ireland...”

~ 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic

The Great Oil and Gas Robbery

Fact: The twenty-six counties imports more then 85% of its energy needs.

Fact: World reserves of easily recoverable oil and gas are slowly running out. Some experts believe that serious oil and gas shortages may occur within forty to seventy years.

Fact: Bord Gáis domestic prices in June 2008 were 63% above 2003 rates with that figure expected to increase to almost 130% by Spring 2009. ESB domestic prices rose by almost 90% between 2001 and 2008. The price of energy will continue to increase over the coming years as world demand for energy increases while at the same time world reserves of oil and gas decrease.

Fact: Every year thousands of people in Ireland suffer avoidable illness and death as a direct result of ‘fuel poverty’, defined as the ‘inability to heat the home adequately because of low household income and energy inefficient housing.

Fact: A number of substantial reserves of Irish oil and gas have already been confirmed, or are in the process of being confirmed, both onshore and offshore. These reserves may well be worth hundreds of billions of euros. Many of the world’s largest energy companies are already exploring for Irish oil and gas.

Fact: Under the current deal that the energy companies were given by the Dublin government the people of Ireland will receive:

• No royalties from the oil and gas.
• No percentage share of the oil and gas.
• No reduced price for Irish oil and gas.
• No guaranteed jobs.

In addition the energy companies will only pay between 25% and 40% tax after they have written off all capital expenditure costs backdated by up to twenty-five years.

How Much Oil and Gas Is There?
Details of Ireland's Hydrocarbon Reserves

The Dunquin oil and gas reserve alone could “transform the energy requirements of Western Europe” according to Tony O’Reilly Junior, the Chief Executive of Providence, one of the companies who currently own the Dunquin reserve.  Click here to find out more about Ireland’s known oil and gas reserves.

Economic Treason
How the Oil and Gas Was Given Away

‘The Irish terms are the best in the world’

This quote came from Mike Cunningham and he should know, as he was once the Director of Statoil E&P Ireland, one of the companies in the Corrib Gas consortium.  The terms to which he was referring are those under which energy companies operate in Ireland.  Click here to find out how the Dublin government gave away Ireland’s oil and gas reserves.

The Rising Price of Energy
Breakdown of the escalating cost of energy in Ireland

Energy prices have risen sharply across the globe over the last seven years. Ireland has not escaped these increases with the price of domestic gas supplied by Bord Gáis already 96% higher than it was in march 2003. This figure is expected to rise to 135% by the Spring of 2009. The ESB has also increased the price of electricity with the price in August 2008 almost 90% dearer then in it was in 2001. These price surges have had a profound impact on both domestic and business users.  Click here for a full breakdown on these price rises and the factors driving the upward spiral.

Fuel Poverty
The Human Cost of Expensive Fuel

Fuel Poverty, which is defined as ‘the inability to heat the home adequately because of low household income and energy inefficient housing’ is a major contributory factor in the premature deaths of up to 3000 people in Ireland each year. Click here to find out more about the real victims of the oil and gas giveaway.

The International Experience
What other countries have done with their Oil and Gas

While the Dublin government may have decided give away its oil and gas reserves many other countries have taken a very different approach. Norway operates a tax rate of 78% on its reserves, while the governments of Venezuela, Bolivia and Russia have all recently moved to limit the profits of the energy companies.  Click here to find out more about how other countries have exploited their oil and gas reserves.

Community Under Siege - Rossport and ‘Shell to Sea’

For seven years the community of Rossport and the surrounding areas have been locked in battle with Shell, Statoil, Marathon and the Dublin government.  During this time members of the community have been threatened, beaten and jailed.  Click here to find out more about Rossport’s resistance and the ‘Shell to Sea’ campaign.