Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
583 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will set up a public enquiry to investigate the granting of a foreshore licence to a company (details supplied) to drill for oil and gas off Dalkey Island, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26726/12]
View answerThe application from Providence Resources for a foreshore licence in respect of site investigations and the drilling of an exploratory well off Dalkey has been assessed by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee which recently submitted its report to my Department. I will consider the recommendation of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee and my Department in due course in making a determination on the licence application. Without prejudging my eventual determination of the current application, it is important to recognise that, should the project progress to commercial exploitation, it would be the subject of further formal applications for consents from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in the first instance, and then An Bord Pleanála under the Planning Acts, and a full lease or licence under the Foreshore Acts, all of which willrequire an Environmental Impact Assessment, including full public consultation.
