Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
191. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether Ireland’s indigenous off-shore hydrocarbon assets should be considered as a development priority based on Ireland’s energy security grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15796/22]
View answer192. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on and if he supports the recent comments from the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Dáil Éireann when they confirmed that the Irish Government will be supportive of licensing for gas and that if gas is found it will be brought ashore; if so, the steps that are being taken by his Department with respect to progressing the actions required to facilitate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the decision taken in 2019 by the previous Government in relation to oil exploration and extraction. This commitment was made effective immediately upon the current Government taking office, and was placed on a statutory footing on commencement of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.
Holders of existing authorisations are not affected by these changes, and may apply to progress their authorisations through the licensing stages towards a natural conclusion – which may include expiry, relinquishment or production. This means that a future commercial discovery in an existing authorisation could potentially reach production. Any applications for follow-on authorisations or applications to conduct petroleum activities in the Irish offshore under an authorisation require Ministerial consent, and are required to meet environmental, technical and financial standards as appropriate.
