As stated in my reply to a similar question on 11 February 1999, the position in relation to the Corrib Field is that Enterprise Oil and their partners Saga Petroleum and Statoll Exploration (Ireland) Limited drilled an appraisal well last year and produced gas on test which flowed at a stabilised rate of 63 million cubic feet of gas per day. The licensees are not able to give precise figures for the size of the gas accumulation at this stage and they will not be able to do so until they have fully evaluated the accumulation. The evaluation process involves a further appraisal well which the company commenced drilling on I May. Additional appraisal work will be undertaken in the light of the results of the current appraisal well.
It is Government policy to ensure that the Irish economy benefits to the maximum extent possible from offshore exploration activities within the constraints of EU legislation. I have continually impressed on the Irish Offshore Operators' Association and the individual operators that Irish workers and suppliers of goods and services must be given opportunities to participate in such activities and I will continue to do so.
Arising from discussions with the Irish Offshore Operators' Association and SIPTU, I arranged that my Department set up and facilitate discussions between representatives of the Irish Offshore Operators' Association, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, SIPTU, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Offshore Suppliers Association on the utilisation of Irish resources and services in the offshore petroleum industry. These discussions are ongoing.
