Ireland is reliant on imported oil to generate energy. What would happen if this supply was interrupted?
Ireland relies on imported fossil fuels to meet its energy needs. Some refined oil is imported from Britain, but the majority comes from the Middle East, more specifically,
The handful of Arab states clustered around the Persian Gulf.
Political tension in the Middle East has nations thinking about what would happen if there was an outbreak of hostilities in the region. There are serious implications fot the economies of Europe and Japan.
A sudden disruption to oil supplies in the Persian Gulf would impact everyone in Ireland, says Liam Connellan from the Confederation of Irish Industry. While stocks of oil are available for the medium term, measures such as rationing would have to be enforced. A switch to solid fuels for domestic use with priority of oil supply being given to industry, would have to be considered. People would have to move to public transport very rapidly.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 May 1980. The reporter is Pat Sweeney.
