I raised this matter on the Adjournment because, when I asked a question concerning oil refineries today, I received several answers to questions I had not asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce. I appreciate that the Minister for Education was replying on behalf of the Minister for Industry and Commerce. I asked the Minister if a policy had been adopted regarding the building and siting of oil refineries in any part of the country and, if so, if he would state the policy. The Minister, in his reply, stated that the selection of a location for any industrial project was primarily a matter for the promoters.
Any project, of course, could mean a sweet factory, a footwear factory or a toy factory but, certainly, not an oil refinery. The Minister, in his reply, went on to tell me that in the ultimate the Minister for Local Government would be the deciding factor. I knew that this was the position to some extent but the strange thing about the Minister's reply is the fact that he never mentioned the Minister for Transport and Power, who plays a big part in the sanctioning, or otherwise, of oil refineries.
Most oil refineries suggested for this country will be sited in coastal areas. The one suggested for Dublin, planning permission for which has been refused by Dublin Corporation Planning Committee—a decision which I welcome— was to be sited in a coastal area and. consequently, needed the sanction of the Minister for Transport and Power. The Minister for Transport and Power would have to issue a works harbour order before the promoters of the refinery could claim land on which to build such a project.
For these reasons I find it hard to understand why the Minister, in his reply, tells me that the Minister for Local Government is the final arbiter on this matter. This shows the poverty of thought in the Department when they do not know which Minister is the final arbiter. I understand that in the case of the Dublin application one of the reasons given for its rejection was the fact that. while the land had been zoned for industrial purposes, the water had not been zoned for any such purpose. It is not possible to plan or zone an area that does not exist. No land exists on this site and, consequently, the refinery could not be built. If one was to accept the Minister's reply to my question at its face value one would imagine that the Minister for Transport and Power had no function in the matter.
I am emphasising this to show that this question (a) had not been fully examined in the Department and (b) that the Minister for Education—I accept he acted in good faith when he gave the reply handed to him by another Department—did not answer my question. I take it therefore that there is no policy for the establishment of oil refineries in any part of the country.
Having regard to the agitation and demonstrations which have preceded the establishment or the rejection of applications for oil refineries in this country, I thought the Government would have given some consideration to the preparation of a policy on this matter. This matter is vitally important from the pollution aspect and for the sake of industrial policy.
I believe that the question of oil refineries will loom larger in our daily lives, whether we look at it as an expansion of our industrial policy or not. The Government should announce their policy in this regard so that future developers will realise the position before seeking planning permission. The application for planning permission to the Dublin Corporation has cost the city a lot of money It was first mooted two years ago and since then high ranking officials of the corporation have spent many hours considering the application. Had the promoters tackled this matter in the right way they would have received an answer much earlier and saved all the expense and time. Had they consulted the requirements for the reclamation of land they would have seen that the corporation had no power to give permission for this reclamation.
This, in my view, is a matter for the Minister for Transport and Power. The reply given to me today indicates a confusion in Government ranks between two Ministers, or two Departments, who do not appear to be able to spell out what the requirements are for the establishment of an oil refinery. It will be said, because I am on this side of the House, that the last Government did nothing about this matter. The last Government, under the Minister for Local Government, set up a working group to examine the question of water pollution and other kindred matters. This working group brought in a report which was to be the basis for a national policy on oil refineries. The Minister, in his reply, made no mention of this. His reply indicates that an application for planning permission for the establishment of an oil refinery is being treated just like an application for the erection of a sweet factory, a toy factory or a footwear factory.
At present at least three applications have been made for the establishment of oil refineries, in Dublin, in Bantry and in Donegal, but, as yet, the Government have not announced their policy in this regard. The people of the country fear what might happen if oil refineries are established. They fear pollution and other threats to the environment. For this reason I believe the Government should announce its policy for the protection of the environment and the education of the people and promoters who are considering the establishment of such refineries. This policy should spell out clearly what is to be allowed. We do not want to have a repetition of the agitation and demonstrations which followed the application for planning permission for the proposed Dublin refinery.
It would save all the trouble at present being experienced in regard to the Dublin application if a national policy was outlined. This policy, which could be described as a national fuel policy, would indicate to promoters if this country is to refine oil or to allow any refineries to be established. It is unfair to the people who propose establishing these refineries that such a policy has not been made public.
The Government should spell out their policy on this matter. In his reply today the Minister told me that grants or other assistance will be provided by the IDA. All public representatives know about planning applications and the work of the IDA and, consequently, this was just padding on the part of the Minister. He did not give me any answer to my question. In any future applications for oil refineries the people concerned will have to go through the entire process of application and agitation.
The former Minister for Local Government set up a working group to examine the problem of pollution and related matters. I would ask the Minister to accept the work done previously and I suggest there is a basis for drafting a national policy on oil refineries. It is no use suggesting this is the same as any other product. An ordinary undertaking would apply to the local authority for planning permission and, if granted, that would be the end of the matter. If an application were rejected and were appealed by the promoter it would be sent to the Minister for Local Government for decision. I appreciate the Government are only three months in office and that they could not have done everything on every issue. However, they were aware of this problem and they knew a working party had considered some aspects of the matter. They had a basis on which to draft a policy but they do not appear to have done so.
Like the Minister, I have some experience of local government and I know the planning regulations. I realise oil refineries affect many parts of the country and that when an application is lodged there will be opposition from some sections of the community. The Government may decide that in the national interest we need oil refineries. I realise that the people responsible for the Dublin Bay project did not propose it merely because we have only one refinery at Whitegate. Their motive was profit and there is nothing wrong in that if profit is made in an honest fashion. However, there is no guidance given to people who do not want oil refineries or to the investors who want to establish them.
We are in the oil age and this problem will crop up again. The Government should state in an unequivocal manner their intentions in this regard. If the Dublin project is appealed by the sponsors it may take a long time before the Minister for Transport and Power and the Minister for Industry and Commerce make a decision. In the meantime the citizens who are genuinely concerned about the possible effects of the refinery must continue to agitate until a decision is made. I am not trying to make capital out of this but I put it to the Minister that he owes it to the people to state the Government's policy. If the Government want to attract capital, potential investors must know the intentions of the Government with regard to the establishment of oil refineries.
It would save time and the taxpayers' money if the Government made a definite statement. I realise the Minister cannot set out this policy tonight but I would ask him to give us some idea of the Government's intentions. I am not going to discuss the merits of oil refineries, whether they pollute the atmosphere or whether they provide employment. That is not the point at issue here. I realise all these points must be taken into consideration but the Government are the final authority and the onus is on them to come forward with a policy.
By a strange coincidence, today the Minister for Local Government announced a plan for clearing oil spillage and he told us the State and the local authorities will finance this work. We have a policy on this matter, but it is the wrong end of the project. It is essential to have a policy on the establishment of plants that will produce and refine oil which, in the event of a spillage, may cause damage. We know that when there is oil spillage the taxpayer will have to pay for clearing it up. The Minister for Local Government is to be complimented on his action today but the more serious aspect—the establishment of oil refineries—should be considered also.
In my question today I asked if the Government had a policy on the establishment or the non-establishment of oil refineries. If they have not such a policy, is one being prepared and when will we be told about the policy? I would ask the Minister for a definite answer to the question.
