asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will comment on the postponement by the EEC of the provision of aid of about £10 million to drill the deepest test well in search of oil and gas off the Irish coast, because of the failure of the Energy Ministers to agree on a five point policy package deal; if he was associated with this failure to reach an agreement; and the proposals which he made to obtain any form of agreement.
Written Answers . - Oil and Gas Exploration .
160.
: The postponement of the hydrocarbons support scheme means in effect that any funds which might be forthcoming thereunder for an Irish project will not now be available unless the necessary instruments are adopted at some future Council meeting. Five measures relating to energy questions were presented to the Council on 30 May 1978. These measures dealt with trade in coal for power stations, policy in the refining sector, energy-saving projects, alternative energy sources and related projects and finally the proposals for exploration aid to which the Deputy refers. These measures were presented as a complete package. In fact two of the more noncontroversial items in the package were endorsed and follow-up action was approved. The package did not command the support necessary for its adoption, various member states maintaining reservations on certain elements of the package. Only two items of the package, namely, those dealing with new energy sources and demonstration projects in the field of energy saving, met with broad consensus.
The failure to agree to the package was not attributable to any positions adopted by Ireland, which contributed positively and constructively to the debate on the overall package.