asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any agreement has yet been made or is contemplated with any external group in reference to the exploration for or development of oil resources; and, if so, whether he will give details thereof.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Oil Resources.
8.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to a similar question on the 4th December last. I expect that the formal agreement to which I referred on that occasion will be executed very soon. On the execution of the agreement I will publish a summary of its main provisions and I will present copies of it to both Houses on the occasion of the introduction of a Bill amending the legislation relating to mineral development.
The negotiations which have led to the agreement were commenced in November, 1957. At that time, while I had before me a number of proposals from external interests for the carrying out of a comprehensive programme of exploration for oil in Ireland, no similar proposals for a comprehensive programme had been submitted by any Irish interests. In the absence of proposals from an Irish group I considered the proposals which had been put forward by external interests which had the necessary financial resources and technical capacity to undertake a comprehensive scheme of oil exploration. In accordance with the requirements of the group with whom negotiations were initiated I undertook not to grant prospecting facilities to any other party during the currency of the negotiations and of any resultant agreement. As a comprehensive Statewide investigation was desired such an undertaking was clearly required for the achievement of this purpose.
I think I should point out that the fact that negotiations were in progress with this group was public knowledge, by reason of frequent Press reports, and the reply to the Dáil question to which I have referred disclosed that the negotiations had been successfully concluded and that an agreement was about to be signed. An application has since been received from an Irish resident to prospect for petroleum over a limited area. I believe, however, that there will be general concurrence in my view that it would be in the national interest to avail of the opportunity which has now presented itself of having a comprehensive investigation carried out on the basis of the agreement which has been negotiated for this purpose.
Would the Minister give the House an undertaking that, before he executes any commitment by which not merely his Government but all succeeding Governments will be bound, the terms of the commitment will be announced to the House?
The Deputy will see from the reply which I have already given to another question on this matter that legislation will be required.
Would the Minister mind reading the preceding reply to which he has referred?
I said:—
"Legislation will be required to give effect to certain provisions of the agreement and when the legislative proposals are being submitted to the Oireachtas I will arrange that copies of the agreement will be presented to both Houses."
Is it correct that the agreement to which the Minister refers will prevent anyone else exploring for oil in this country for the next ten years?
I made it quite clear the intention is to provide for a State-wide investigation and that is the purpose of the agreement.
Is it a fact or is it not—I gathered from the Minister's statement of last Tuesday morning it is a fact, which statement incidentally arrived to the public a matter of a few hours after my question was put down and, therefore, I am entitled to assume my question inspired the Minister to make a statement—that under the agreement to which the Minister referred in that statement no other interest can explore for oil in this country for the next ten years?
That is not quite correct. The Deputy had better wait until he sees the whole document.
If that is not correct does the Minister not think that before this country's oil exploratory possibilities—I am not going to put it any further than that—are considered this House and the country are entitled to know the terms before we are cut off from any other source for ten years?
I have already made it clear this agreement cannot be implemented until the Bill is passed through the Oireachtas.
Would the Minister say whether he has already intimated to this Texan group that he proposes to give them rights to explore for oil over the entire State exclusively, and that in pursuance of that undertaking which I understand he has given, no Irish national or group of Irish nationals will be permitted to explore for oil so long as the Texan group hold the exclusive exploratory rights? Is that the position?
That is a very tendentious question. The intention is to arrange with a competent group for a State-wide exploration of any oil possibilities there may be. I have already expressed the view that there will be general concurrence in the wisdom of proceeding on that line. I am not excluding from that opinion those in this country who have shown an interest in oil exploration.
Is the Minister prepared at this stage to say what the term of years will be during which other interests will be excluded?
There are fairly complicated provisions in that regard.
May I take it from what the Minister has said in his last reply that any Irish group which makes an application for permission to explore either petroleum or natural gases will have their application considered sympathetically and that the assurance he has given to a Texan group will not exclude an Irish group from consideration in this respect?
I have made it quite clear in the reply I gave to the Deputy last December, when there was in fact no other application for exploration, that the intention was to arrange a nation-wide exploration for oil by one single group.
The Minister for Health.
Does it follow from that that the Minister has given an assurance to the Texan group that they have got a concession?
The Minister for Health.
This is of grave importance.
It cannot go on forever.
May I ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce this question? Is he satisfied that the group with whom he is dealing are a group who will carry out the work themselves, that they have the resources to carry out the work themselves and are not merely a group acting as a front for the purpose of passing on the concession to somebody else?
All I can say to the Deputy is that before this group were picked from amongst those interested in carrying out such a comprehensive scheme, full inquiries were made as to their status.
I am not asking about their status. Are they going to do the work themselves or will they pass on the concession to somebody else?
The Minister for Health.