Vol. 402 No. 9
3 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Energy whether he has studied the report on the Irish National Petroleum Corporation of the Joint Committee on Commercial State-sponsored Bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have seen the Oireachtas joint committee report on the INPC. The joint committee have on several occasions requested the participation of the INPC in an examination by the committee of their affairs. While I, like previous Ministers for Energy and the INPC themselves, have been most anxious to facilitate the wishes of the committee, certain issues which would be examined by the committee are sub judice and it was and is considered unlikely that they could be dealt with without prejudice to the interests of the State.
Will the Minister not agree that the committee went out of their way in their report to make it clear to him that they would take account of any sensitivity on this issue due to the action taken, now almost seven years ago? Will he not agree also that the High Court refused the injunction sought and the European Commission ruled it was not in breach of the Treaty of Rome? The INPC, who were not party to the case, have since published their annual report which the committee have responsibility to examine. Will the Minister not agree that his explanation was rather tenuous, as the committee commented?
The Deputy is not correct in most of what he has been saying. The High Court has not refused the application.
It refused the injunction.
The High Court referred the matter. That was not the matter that was referred to the European Commission. The question referred was of interpretation and the courts gave their judgement on that, but the matter still lies before the Irish courts. The case has not been withdrawn. That is the difficulty. If the companies who brought the case were so good as to withdraw it I would be quite happy to have the INPC appear before the Oireachtas committee. There would be no problem about that.
A very brief question please, Deputy Bruton.
Is it not totally unsatisfactory that after seven years the Oireachtas is still unable to examine this company although the Minister is now proposing to sell them off?
The situation relates to the mandatory regime. If I succeed in finding a successful buyer or partner who will bring an end to the mandatory regime, that will dispose of that issue. The mandatory regime is still in place and if it is in any way to be questioned then there is a serious threat to the continuation of Whitegate, and, consequently, the employment of those working there, and a threat to the whole oil distribution system we have in place. This issue is not treated lightly and I suggest to the Deputy that the Government, and the Minister, have a serious responsibility to make the right decision in regard to it. I respect the opinion offered by the Oireachtas committee but the responsibility lies with me and the Government.
Answerable to the Dáil.
I am answering to the Dáil. I have explained it on numerous occasions to the Dáil.
