asked the Minister for Energy if, in the event of offshore oil and gas development, provision has been made to have the platforms and pipelines necessary to bring the resources ashore built by Irish firms, thus ensuring considerable jobs for engineering craft workers.
Written Answers. - Oil and Gas Exploration.
606.
With regard to oil and gas exploration and development, it has been the policy of successive Governments to ensure that Irish suppliers benefit to the fullest extent possible from any business opportunities arising. To this end, section 62 of our Offshore Licensing Terms provides that: The licensee shall use goods and services of Irish origin in his activities as far as they are competitive in regard to quality, service, delivery period and price. The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards has been entrusted with the responsibility of promoting the implementation of this requirement.
In the context of a new hydrocarbon development, a considerable amount of planning has already been undertaken, using as a guideline the experience of the Kinsale Head Gasfield, which was developed between 1973 and 1978. The IIRS has already initiated a major review of the capabilities of Irish suppliers in order to achieve maximum advantage from any future development. In addition, a survey is being carried out on the various technologies involved in particular systems of hydrocarbon development. The IIRS has also provided for a number of specialised action programmes designed to assist Irish suppliers on specific problems which they are likely to encounter in a development situation, such as tendering for contracts and meeting the quality assurance requirements for offshore fabrication.