Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Offshore Exploration.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

118 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress being made by his Department to develop a strategy for the environmental regulation of petroleum exploration and production for offshore oil and gas activities; the measures, if any, he will take to allow for public consultation during the development process beyond the consultation taking place with industry representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22572/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I assure the Deputy that there are already measures in place to ensure that all operations relating to offshore oil and gas exploration and production are conducted with due regard to the protection of the environment, in accordance with agreed national and international standards and procedures. Approvals for drilling, surveying and production operations are issued by my Department, and are subject to conditions relating to the protection of the marine environment.

In addition to these provisions, the Sea Pollution (Amendment) Act, 1999, enacts the Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention, OPRC, 1990, which was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, IMO. Under the Act, the Irish marine emergency service, IMES, may require the preparation of advance emergency plans to deal with pollution incidents. The Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act, 1996, requires a permit for the disposal at sea of offshore installations, and provides for public consultation. The Act gives effect to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic.

These measures are set out in the licensing terms for offshore oil and gas exploration and development and in the rules and procedures for offshore petroleum exploration and production operations. In addition, an operation is required to have prepared an oil spill emergency response plan where drilling operations are being carried out.

The provisions relating to the protection of the environment are being re-examined in the context of the revision of the rules and procedures manual and will be revised as considered necessary. On the question of public consultation in these matters the position is that the rules and procedures relate to very specialised activities and, apart from the petroleum industry active in Ireland, public consultation is not considered practical at this stage. However, under the Pet roleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, a company which proposes to bring petroleum into production is required to submit to me an environmental impact statement on the likely effects of the proposed development on the environment and make it publicly available. Any person is entitled to make submissions or observations to me in relation to the effects of the proposal on the environment. I would of course take into account any such observations before reaching a decision on the proposed development.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

119 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress being made by his Department in developing the regulatory framework for development of petroleum exploration and production for offshore oil and gas activity which forms part of his Department's Strategy Statement 1998-2000; the proposed status of any such guidelines or regulations; the measures, if any, he will take to allow for public consultation during the development process; and the timetable for their implementation. [22573/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The reference in my Department's Strategy Statement l998-2000 to an updated E and P regulation framework relates to rules and procedures for offshore petroleum exploration operations, and rules and procedures for offshore petroleum production operations, which are issued by my Department to petroleum companies engaged in such activities.

The updating of the rules and procedures involves consultation with other Government Departments and agencies with responsibilities in these areas. Consultation on exploration activities is under way and when completed will be followed by consultation on production. An essential component of the updating process is to ensure that appropriate safety regulations are in place. In this regard my Department has engaged consultants to carry out a review of the offshore safety systems in use. This consultancy has commenced and a report with conclusions and recommendations is expected by next spring. It is expected that the updating process in respect of both sets of rules and procedures will be completed by the middle of 2000.

The rules and procedures for offshore petroleum exploration and production operations are drawn up by me under powers that derive from the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960. They are incorporated in authorisations which I am empowered to issue under the Act. Accordingly, holders of exploration licences or petroleum leases for development activities are obliged to comply with all of the provisions of the rules and procedures in the conduct of their activities.

On the question of public consultation in these matters the position is that the rules and procedures relate to very specialised activities and accordingly, apart from the petroleum industry active in Ireland, public consultation does not arise.