2 March 2000 Edition
Gas find must benefit Mayo
Joe McHale, Sinn Féin's representative in Castlebar, has called on all the people of Mayo to demand that their political representatives ensure that the maximum benefit comes to the county and the region from the gas find off our coast.
Speaking on Community Radio Castlebar at the weekend, Joe McHale also said that Enterprise Oil were getting a bargain at the expense of the Irish people.
``The signing away of any royalties that would have accrued from this find by the Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition in 1992 and the bargain basement tax break given to Enterprise Oil has severely short-changed the people of Ireland in general and of Mayo in particular,'' he said.
``It is incumbent on the government to ensure that any financial benefit is channeled back into the region. The tax rate should also be reassessed - the 25% rate is far lower than the world average of 40% usually levied on gas and oil companies - so that the people of Ireland can truly benefit from our natural resources.''
Speaking on Community Radio Castlebar at the weekend, Joe McHale also said that Enterprise Oil were getting a bargain at the expense of the Irish people.
``The signing away of any royalties that would have accrued from this find by the Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition in 1992 and the bargain basement tax break given to Enterprise Oil has severely short-changed the people of Ireland in general and of Mayo in particular,'' he said.
``It is incumbent on the government to ensure that any financial benefit is channeled back into the region. The tax rate should also be reassessed - the 25% rate is far lower than the world average of 40% usually levied on gas and oil companies - so that the people of Ireland can truly benefit from our natural resources.''