asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the extent to which the trans-shipment of 105,000 tons of crude oil from the Whiddy Island Terminal to Lisbon, Portugal, on 26 September 1979 affects the maintenance of reserves at Bantry in the context of the statement made by Gulf on 26 September that the crude oil on the terminal is owned by Gulf Oil and by Petrogal, the Portuguese state-owned oil company, and if he will make a statement on the arrangements agreed between this company and his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Crude Oil Trans-Shipment.
25.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement issued on my behalf by the Government Information Services on 7 September 1979, the last paragraph of which reads as follows:
Following discussions between Gulf Oil Terminals (Ireland) Ltd. and Government Departments concerned, the company is proceeding with arrangements to trans-ship a quantity of crude oil from the terminal at Whiddy Island. These arrangements are subject to the observance of navigational and safety requirements and to any necessary clearance with the Tribunal of Inquiry. This does not affect the long-standing arrangements under which Gulf is maintaining one million barrels of crude oil in storage at Whiddy, this quantity being part of the oil stocks maintained in compliance with this country's obligations under EEC and International Energy Agency requirements.
On 30 October 1979 Gulf Oil completed removal of about 3½ million barrels of crude oil from their Whiddy terminal, leaving slightly over 1 million barrels of oil still in storage there.
There were no arrangements agreed between Petrogal, the Portuguese stateowned oil company, and my Department.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next sitting day.
With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise a matter on the Adjournment this evening, I would ask the Ceann Comhairle to advert to a supplementary question asked on a group of questions, Nos. 3 to 7, on 17 October. When I asked about the reported air corridor, the Taoiseach indicated that if I were more specific he would give a reply but, unfortunately, I was interrupted by an irrelevant question. It is the question of the air corridor that I wish to raise in view of the fact that the Taoiseach said he would answer it if I were precise. I was precise.
The Deputy wrote me a letter and I am having it looked into. I will communicate with him.
I hope you will and urgently, because there is grave disquiet all around the country about this alarming if not disgraceful proposal which is being rumoured.