asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress, if any, his Department has made towards re-opening the Whiddy Oil Terminal in Bantry Bay, County Cork.
34.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Whiddy Oil Terminal.
31.
asked the Minister for Energy the present position regarding the proposal by Nigerian interests to take over operations at Whitegate Oil Refinery and the Whiddy Oil Terminal, County Cork.
38.
asked the Minister for Energy the present position regarding the proposal by the Nigerian State Oil Company to use Whiddy Oil Terminal and Whitegate Oil Refinery, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43.
asked the Minister for Energy the Government's requirements in any deal to sell or enter a joint-venture for the operation of Whitegate and Whiddy, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
52.
asked the Minister for Energy the present position regarding any agreement for the supply, processing and distribution of petroleum with the Nigerian Government or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or any other Government/Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 34, 38, 43 and 52 together.
A proposal relating to the supply, refining, storage and distribution of oil products to the Irish market which was submitted by a group representing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation earlier this year is no longer under consideration. The decision not to proceed was made in the light of all the evidence available including the weight of authoritative, independent advice available to the Government in this matter. Discussions with other interests are now proceeding.
The Government, in the interest of maximising the economic benefit associated with the oil-related facilities at Whitegate and Whiddy and with a view to the development of stable oil supply arrangements with producing countries or other interested parties, aim to secure the upgrading and re-activation of these assets, the enhancement of national strategic supply security and the lowering of product prices throughout the economy. The Government are seeking, through direct contact with principals to develop projects of mutual advantage which would encompass these objectives. Where proposals meet these requirements then they will be actively pursued through direct contact with the interests concerned.
I am anxious to see progress made in relation to the development of proposals relating to our oil-related assets. As an interim step, the Government have decided that the Irish National Petroleum Corporation should apply for full planning permission for the installation of two single point mooring systems at Whiddy. This step will encourage oil industry interest in the terminal and if a suitable customer is identified it will be possible to bring the facility on stream much faster than would otherwise be the case.
I think there is a certain inherent contradiction in that reply and in the reply to the previous question. Notwithstanding that, can I ask the Minister if the Government have made a decision in principle that they would be happy to dispose of the assets at Whitegate and Whiddy? I take it from the Minister's response now that the Nigerian venture is not under consideration — I think all those negotiations are over — that there are discussions with some other interested party.
We have been pursuing a number of contacts around the world at Government level and at INPC level. As a first step and to ensure that no time will be lost we have decided that the INPC should apply for full planning permission for the installation of the two single point mooring systems at Whiddy. The Deputy can be assured that the full resources of the Government will be used to reactivate Whiddy and to upgrade Whitegate to the maximum. He will be aware from his time in this job of the need for an upgrading of Whitegate. If that can be done by private rather than public money so much the better.
I have a very brief question.
Sorry, Deputy, the House does not permit you to ask a question in my time. May I ask the Minister how does he reconcile his reply to Deputy O'Malley in relation to the necessity of preserving Whitegate in terms of security of supply? My understanding of the negotiations with the Nigerian Government was that the Irish Government was going to concede any interest in either Whitegate ar Whiddy and we would have been giving away any interest of the Government in security of supply.
We did not proceed with that offer which was made to us. We did not accept it and that was the end of it.
May I ask the Minister——
In respect of Priority Questions only the Deputy in whose name the question appears is ——
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, my Question No. 31 was grouped with the Priority Questions.
The Minister may have done that but the rule is that only the person in whose name the priority question appears may ask a question.
In view of that position——
In future——
When the Minister did couple my question surely I should have some opportunity——
The Deputy would be asking me in deference to the high regard in which I hold him to create a precedent which would make it very difficult for me on such occasions and I cannot do that.
This is not creating a precedent. I have just one question to ask the Minister.
The regulation is that the Deputy is not entitled to ask a supplementary question.
But surely when the Minister included my question in his reply——
At that stage if you were aware, as I am sure you are, of Standing Orders you should have objected and said that precludes you from asking a supplementary question.
I had it on the Order Paper today and I did not get the opportunity of asking a question. It seems the Whiddy development was a bottle of smoke.
Whatever chance the Deputy had by pleading in his normal fashion he has none now if he tries to challenge the Chair. Your opportunity is gone now.
The Deputy is very welcome to come to my office. I will give him all the information he wants on it as I have nothing to hide.
There is an agreement about the fishermen——
We know all that and if the Deputy gives notice next week he might have a suitable opportunity to raise it on the Adjournment and have the benefit of a long speech.
I am very sorry you were not able to accede to my request.
The Deputy will appreciate that everything is important to every Deputy.
The people of south west Cork——
(Interruptions.)
I go on holidays down there occasionally, do not put me off.
(Interruptions.)
We would be pleased to have you down there any time.
The Deputy has succeeded in circumventing the rule and I hope he will assume now that having that done we should proceed to what is ordered and allow us proceed to call Deputy Durkan——
On a point of order, while you were dealing with Deputy Sheehan's injured rights we ran over the time for Priority Question No. 53 so may I be allowed injury time to deal with it? The Minister is more than anxious to answer.
I was not aware that you were making these pleadings to Deputy Sheehan to allow us proceed with anything else. If the time has been reached we have to live in accordance with the rules and regulations.
The Minister is anxious to reply.
I have no means by which I can see the inner workings of any Minister's mind and I am sure that even if I had he would appreciate that we must operate according to the rules. If there is general agreement throughout the House that something should happen I would agree, but the House appreciates that it is not wise to part from what is ordered and what the regulations are. I am sure Deputy Bruton would look forward to being entertained in the Minister's office where he might get more information than he would get here and allow us to proceed.
(Interruptions.)
That reflects on Question Time.
The question refers to public accountability, not to private accountability of the Minister. I do not think it would substitute——
The answer to the question is published.