asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the number of oil companies or equivalents that have been granted prospecting licences within the sea area under Ireland's jurisdiction.
Written Answers. - Offshore Prospecting Licences.
50.
There are two types of offshore petroleum licence. Firstly there is an exclusive exploration licence which authorises exploration for petroleum by way of survey and drilling in a particular block or blocks exclusively allocated to the licensee. Each such licence carries a commitment to a specific exploration programme. The second type of licence is a non-exclusive prospecting licence under which the holder is authorised to carry out general surveying, such as surface prospecting work, in common with all other holders of such licences, in the entire designated area of our Continental Shelf, excepting the blocks exclusively allocated under exploration licences.
There are at present in issue 12 exclusive exploration licences and 13 non-exclusive prospecting licences in respect of our designated offshore area.
58.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if his attention has been drawn to a reported statement by the managing director of Asahi that the company may drop its plans to employ a further 480 men, as originally envisaged, due to conditions in the textile industry; and if he will make a statement on this development.
I have seen the report to which the Deputy refers but I do not draw from it the same inferences as the Deputy.
The first stage of the project is nearing completion at present, and I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that the promoters have not taken a decision as regards the subsequent stages.
59.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy whether, in order to save the production and employment now threatened by the liquidation of the Van Hool-McArdle plant at Inchicore, Dublin, he will intervene with a view to securing the resumption by CIE of its bus building operation there.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 9th February, 1978. Discussions have been held in my Department with the parties involved in an effort to help them to resolve their differences. These discussions, however, have not been successful. The High Court has now made an order for the winding up of the company and an official liquidator has been appointed. The resumption of bus building by CIE is a matter for consideration by the board of CIE.