I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
Enterprise Energy Ireland, EEI Limited, acting as operator for the proposed development of the Corrib gas field having recently declared the field commercial have applied to me for a petroleum lease to develop it. This lease has not yet issued but I expect that I will be in a position to do so within the coming weeks.
On receipt of a petroleum lease, EEI must then apply to me for approval for the working of the petroleum at which stage their plan of development, accompanied by an environmental impact statement, both of which have already been submitted to me will be examined in my Department before I will be in a position to issue approval in respect of the development. At that stage EEI will be obliged to publish in at least one daily newspaper published in the State a notice stating, inter alia, that it has applied to me for approval for the working of the petroleum indicating the location and nature of the proposed working and also that an environmental impact statement has been prepared and submitted to me in respect of the proposed working. EEI must name a place where a copy of the environmental impact statement may be inspected or purchased by any interested person specifying the time and the period, being the prescribed period, during which the environmental impact statement can be inspected or purchased. During the prescribed period any person may make a submission or observations to me in relation to the effects on the environment to the proposed working.
The plan of development to be examined by my Department in connection with my approval for the working of the petroleum contains details of a proposed onshore pipeline route passing through Rossport, County Mayo leading to a proposed terminal site at Bellanaboy Bridge some eight kilometres away. The route of this pipeline will not be fixed until I have considered all the technical and environmental aspects of the proposed route and I give my final approval to it.
