A Swedish MEP has said that by banning offshore oil exploration, “politicians in Dublin” have “betrayed the Irish people” and undermined the country’s energy independence.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Gript Media this week, Charlie Weimers said Ireland’s decision to prohibit exploration of its own fossil fuel resources was part of a wider European approach that has increased reliance on external energy sources.
Weimers said that European energy policy had left countries exposed, particularly in light of recent geopolitical instability, and argued that Ireland had followed a similar path by limiting domestic production options.
IRAN WAR “A BRUTAL REMINDER OF HOW RECKLESS THE EU ENERGY POLICY HAS BEEN”
He said the current situation in Europe had been worsened by policy decisions taken over a number of years.
“The war in Iran is yet another brutal reminder of how reckless the EU energy policy has been,” he said.
“Oil prices have surged dramatically, gas is spiking again, and Europe is now paying the price for shutting down reliable baseload power and for banning exploration of its own natural resources, such as in Germany, the Netherlands, and of course in Ireland.”
He added that increased reliance on renewable energy subsidies had contributed to rising costs for consumers.
“So what we have seen is more and more targets and financial support subsidies for intermittents, and that means more costs passed on to the citizens,” he said.
“So we need a U-turn on all this.”
EU’s DIMINISHED COMPETITIVENESS
Weimers also linked Irish policy decisions to broader trends within the European Union, suggesting that political choices had contributed to higher energy prices and reduced competitiveness.
“It is Europe that is exporting its own companies to places like China and the United States because we have made energy prices so high that they cannot stay on our continent,” he said.
“So yes, we have put ourselves in a very dire situation with energy dependency and with few own alternatives.”
He further claimed that political leaders would face consequences from voters in response to these developments.
“And I do think that the political class stand to be blamed for this, and I think they will be punished in the polls as well.”
EU REACTION TO IRISH FUEL PROTESTS
Addressing recent fuel protests in Ireland, Weimers said there was a divide in how such demonstrations were viewed within EU institutions.
“For us who oppose the Green Deal with its increase in prices for transport, for housing and food, we understand the strong reaction from the farmers, the truckers in Ireland,” he said.
“I mean, what else can they do when they have a government that will not listen to them, that treat them as pawns in this green game?”
He said that some policymakers in Brussels viewed the protests as a political issue to be managed rather than a response to economic pressures.
“I think they regard it as an inconvenience, another political problem to be managed rather than a legitimate cry for help,” he said.
“Of course they will help their allies in the Irish government maybe through some flexibility on excise duties, but they do not aim to solve the problem, they want to keep the voters quiet.”
GOVERNMENT “BETRAYED THE IRISH PEOPLE” BY BANNING OIL EXPLORATION
When asked about Ireland’s 2021 ban on offshore oil exploration, Weimers said that countries should seek to maximise their own energy independence where possible.
“I think every national leadership has an obligation to its own citizens to try to become as energy independent as possible,” he said.
“And the politicians in Dublin have betrayed that ambition and betrayed the Irish people for not seeking to do so.”
IRISH POLITICIANS UNLIKELY TO “RESPONSIBLY” DEAL WITH POTENTIAL OIL MONEY
He also referred to the experience of Norway, noting its management of oil revenues through a sovereign wealth fund, while questioning whether similar outcomes would be achieved elsewhere.
“Norway has been very careful with how it uses its oil money,” he said.
“Most of the money are in an oil fund, and they do not allow themselves to spend too much because they want to keep inflation down.”
He added that he wasn’t sure the current crop of Irish politicians would be capable of using such levels of wealth responsibly.
“[Norway] is one of very few countries that have managed to really deal with its new-found wealth,” he said.
“Most of the countries see corruption instead, and my honest answer is that I do not know whether the political class in Dublin would be able to handle this the way the Norwegians would have. So maybe first you would have to elect other more responsible and realist politicians.”
Ireland introduced a ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration licences in 2021, as part of a broader climate policy framework aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The measure has remained in place even after the Green Party’s departure from Government, with the Taoiseach recently indicating that there are no plans to reverse the decision.
The policy has been a point of debate in recent years, particularly amid rising energy costs and concerns over supply security across Europe.
The Gript interview with Weimers focused on EU digital regulation, child protection, immigration, and more, and can be viewed in full below.