Vol. 530 No. 3
73 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will make the independent consultants' report on the Corrib gasfield in north Mayo available to the local residents directly affected in that area; and if a copy could also be supplied directly to Deputy Ring. [3645/01]
My Department engaged Environmental Resources Management to advise on the environmental impact statement submitted by Enterprise Energy Ireland to my Department. This advice is for the purpose of determining if the EIS conforms with statutory requirements and to advise on the adequacy of the EIS. The advice forms part of the extensive consultative process which my Department undertakes with internal and external experts, statutory consultees and the general public on a project of this nature. This process is ongoing.
It is not the practice to release individual segments of assessments and-or advice received from consultees-advisers during the deliberative process. The Department is finalising its assessment of the implications of the ERM report before bringing any decisions required to my attention. When I have reached any decisions required, I will at that point consider if it would be appropriate to release all or part of the ERM report and related documentation.
