asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when he proposes to allocate off-shore oil and gas rights.
8.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Off-Shore Oil and Gas.
7.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when he proposes to announce the proposed terms for exploration and development of off-shore oil and gas resources.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
Certain parts of our offshore areas are already subject to exclusive exploration licence. The issue of further exclusive exploration licences must await publication of the conditions which will attach to such licences. I expect to announce these conditions shortly.
Is the Minister aware that the people interested in carrying out this exploration and development are very frustrated, indeed, because of the lengthy delays that have taken place so far and, in those circumstances, will he arrange to announce the terms within a matter of days? We were given to understand last week that the announcement was to be made last week but for some reason it was put off.
With regard to frustration, I do not accept the Deputy's inference. That is not my information. I shall make the announcement very shortly.
The financing of some of this exploration could have been arranged much more easily 12 months ago than it can now and this may well result in fewer areas being explored than would have been explored if the terms had been announced 12 months ago.
I do not accept that.
Has any consideration been given or has the Minister any ideas as to how protection can be afforded to the Irish labour force and to Irish firms to give them the opportunity of doing the development work offshore—that is, the development work from the oil or gas find to the shore line? I am seeking some way of protecting jobs in the area for our own people. Can that be done?
I am acutely aware of the problem raised by the Deputy. There are two constraints. One is the constraint found in our accession treaty to the Community. Another is the constraint that certain skills of a very high level and very specialised do not exist here. Within these two constraints the Deputy can take it that we have done everything we can think of to the limit legally possible to ensure the spin-off in jobs results in these jobs being given to Irish workers.
Has the Minister given consideration to the fabrication work, or similar work, carried out in the adjacent harbour area as against being fabricated elsewhere and brought in from outside?
The Deputy is seeking to extend the scope of the question.
The answer is "No".
Could one of the two constraints be removed by setting up a cadre of trainees for these specialised jobs?
The Minister's Parliamentary Secretary was to report to him the gist of a series of questions I put to him about the training of non-destructive personnel. Has he reported?
That seems to be a separate matter.
It is closely related.
I arrived back from Luxembourg late last night and I have not yet spoken to my Parliamentary Secretary and I cannot, therefore, answer now. In regard to the matter of fabrication, the IDA has been looking at the possibilities offered to it by Continental Shelf Development. I think the Deputy, for a reason I can guess, used the term "the adjacent harbour" in the singular. I would have to see that the work was done in the most appropriate place. That might be the adjacent harbour or it might be somewhere else inside Ireland. In regard to the cadre of trainees, I cannot be explicit but I understand this matter is in hand in the Department of Labour and AnCO. Planning is going on.
I will be satisfied if this happens within Ireland but I am not sure about the dealing with the IDA and——
I did not specify the other partners. I said the IDA had carried out studies to ensure that the maximum benefit spin-off of shorebased jobs of every kind, whether fabrication or servicing, would result for the adjacent parts of the Irish coast.
Would the Minister not take it a little further?
I am calling the next question, No. 9.
What Irish industries could do this necessary fabrication?
Will the Deputy please obey the Chair? I have called Question No. 9.
I will convey the Deputy's sentiments to them. They are also mine.