Louis J. Belton
Question:38 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Energy if he proposes to continue the mandatory off-take of Whitegate oil products.
Written Answers. - Whitegate Oil Products.
Michael Creed
Question:57 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Energy if he proposes to continue the mandatory off-take of Whitegate oil products.
Patrick D. Harte
Question:89 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Energy if he proposes to continue the mandatory off-take of Whitegate oil products.
Joseph Doyle
Question:93 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Energy if he proposes to continue the mandatory off-take of Whitegate oil products.
Bernard Allen
Question:104 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Energy if he proposes to continue the mandatory off-take of Whitegate oil products.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 57, 89, 93, and 104 together.
The mandatory off-take regime was imposed in order to keep an operational refinery capacity in Ireland as a security of supply measure. It would be my intention to continue it so long as it is seen as a necessary element of that security, and I am satisfied that it is. In the recent Iraq-Kuwait conflict a significant volume of extra crude was imported, for refining at Whitegate if that had proved necessary.
The Government are committed to seeking an upgrade of the Whitegate refinery to enable the refinery to produce oil products at competitive prices. As I informed the House on 16 October 1991 a particular project has been identified which is currently under examination.