Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:14 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will sanction the building of a second interconnector by Bord Gáis Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17314/00]
Other Questions. - Natural Gas Interconnector.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 4 which was answered earlier.
It is regrettable that we have not changed the rules so the Minister does not have to reply to the same question twice in the one day. We could add six minutes to the time available for the first question.
We could revert to the old rules.
Does the Minister of State agree that if there is a delay on a decision on the second interconnector, the Government will find that John McGoldrick and Enterprise Oil will be able to dictate what happens? Under the liberalisation process in the Bill before the House, he will be able to tell them where the pipelines will go and to decide who gets gas. We would be in their hands. Does the Minister of State agree that if the second interconnector is in place, even if it is surplus to requirements, it will be filled eventually, either exporting or importing gas? Will he consider taking an early decision to allow Bord Gáis Éireann go ahead with the second interconnector, for which funding has been arranged and which was recommended in the study conducted by Bord Gáis Éireann?
I assure the Deputy that Mr. McGoldrick will not be in a position to dictate. BGE has presented a proposal to me for this interconnector and it is being considered in the context of security of supply and competition in close consultation with the Attorney General and advisers. I am being prudent in handling this. The Government wants to ensure that the cost to the end consumer is as low as possible. When certainty about the commercial development of Corrib is established, astute and timely decisions will be taken to ensure security of supply. That will be before the end of the year.
Will the Minister of State tell the House the reason for the delay in assessing the Corrib oil field? Enterprise Oil made various statements about when it would be done and, according to the first statement it issued, it should have been long ago. It has been postponed again and again. Does the Minister agree that if Enterprise Oil is the main supplier, it will place the Government over a barrel? The company is not making the necessary application to ensure commerciality. What is the cause of the delay and when will the Government receive the application for commerciality?
I have repeatedly requested a meeting with the board of Enterprise Oil and when I met it some months ago, I asked it not to keep me waiting on this issue. I asked it to come up with a final decision on commerciality. Everyone expects it to be declared, although that has not been done formally for reasons best known to Enterprise Oil. In the meantime we have not been idle, we are working on all the other aspects of the mix and I compliment Enterprise Ireland and the others for their actions in the latter quarter of this year. Decisions will be taken one way or another, regardless of the decision of Enterprise Ireland.