asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he regards the establishment of one or several oil refineries, irrespective of their location, as desirable in the national interest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Refineries.
45.
I do not regard the establishment of one or several oil refineries, irrespective of their location, as necessarily desirable in the national interest. While I am, of course, anxious to encourage the establishment of industries which would give employment of a high quality to Irish workers and help improve our balance of payments position, each project must be examined to ensure that it will benefit the country and not injure it, taking account of both economic and environmental aspects.
I might add that I share the concern which I take is implied in the Deputy's question and I have initiated discussions with colleagues in other Departments to decide if the policy which we inherited is satisfactory or whether we need a new policy in regard to the location of oil refineries.
Is the Minister aware that a properly constructed oil refinery, without causing a serious hazard to the environment, might, as a result of downstream industries, involve the employment of upwards of 40,000 people? In these circumstances are we discussing whether it should be Dublin Bay or Bantry Bay? I should like to know if it is in the national interest to have an oil refinery established in this country?
The Deputy cannot broaden the scope of the question.
The Deputy is aware that there is already an oil refinery in the country and that a number of others are under consideration.
I am personally aware of five or six proposals for the establishing of refineries in the country. I have read in the paper that one has been turned down and one has been accepted. We have a certain amount of emotional involvement in this and I should like to know if an emotional or economic decision will be taken by the Minister, and the Minister for Local Government, as to whether such a refinery should be established or how many should be established?
The Deputy has offered me a choice as to whether it is an emotional or an economical decision. The answer is neither. It is a decision that will be taken in the light of all the relevant considerations, none of which is emotional, some of which are economic and some of which go far and beyond the bounds of economics and concern matters of environment and of long term visible planning.
I am not satisfied with that answer. I am asking the Minister if he will agree that, in spite of the conflict that may arise between the environmentalists and the economists in the case of an oil refinery that could possibly bring about the employment of 40,000 people, we should submit to the pressures being put in by such groups as An Taisce. Is it desirable in the economic interest to have oil refineries regardless of the location?
I should like to ask the Minister if a licence from him is necessary before an oil refinery can be established and if that is so would he, in deciding in future whether or not ever to grant a licence for the erection of a refinery in Dublin Bay, to bear in mind that many of us are emotionally involved in seeing that such an event never takes place?
What was wrong with the oil refinery in Whitegate? Nothing happened about that. The only thing was we had not enough of them.
In my view, refineries are desirable and it is possible to reconcile the needs of environmenttalists and others. I share Deputy Haughey's concern about Dublin Bay. There are other beautiful areas in which it would be better not to have oil refineries, but I think both needs can be reconciled if there is some thinking ahead, some planning and some policy. We want the refineries. We want the amenities and we want to preserve the environment as well. I believe we can do both if we think ahead.
Has the Minister to give licences?
No.
The Minister stated he was having discussions with his colleagues with regard to future policy. Do these discussions affect the projected oil refineries which will come possibly to Bantry and Shannon at the moment? If a decision is taken which may be contrary will those refineries be affected or is it future projects that will be affected?
It is a matter of the stage which has been reached. The same sort of considerations apply as applied in the question answered just now by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. Where commitments have been entered into they will be honoured. The country cannot continue its industrial development if it makes agreements and breaks them.
Will the Government be in a position to make a statement of their policy on this matter?
I cannot give any precise information on that, but I recognise it is a matter of some urgency because of pressure of applications.
Is the Minister aware that deep water is necessary to make an oil refinery a viable proposition?
I am calling Question No. 46.