Exploratory drilling off Kerry ‘under way’ after state grants consent

Leo Varadkar and Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Sean Canney

Drilling of an exploratory oil and gas well off the coast of Kerry by a Chinese state-owned company has already begun. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation, in partnership with ExxonMobil, started drilling the well almost immediately after the government granted consent last Monday.

The Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE), Sean Canney, granted the consent to drill in the Porcupine Basin after the application passed ...