Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Corrib Gas Field.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

147 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if due consideration will be given before measures are enacted which may have an immediate or long-term significant detrimental effect on the people and environment of a region (details supplied) in north County Mayo; and if he will first ensure that he has full access to all the relevant facts from an independent source. [17178/01]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

The legislation governing petroleum developments is the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960. The provisions of this Act relating to the environmental support assessment require the applicant seeking approval for the working of petroleum to submit an environmental impact statement, EIS, to me for consideration. This EIS must accompany the plan of development for the field. Both the plan of development and the EIS require my approval before the applicant can engage in any development work leading to or associated with the extraction of gas.

Among the issues that fall to be addressed by the environmental impact statement are the effects of the proposed development on human beings, including the long-term risks, if any, to health and the environment. It will also have to address the environmental sensitivity of the geographical area likely to be affected having regard in particular to existing land use. Before reaching a decision on a project of this nature, my Department will carry out an extensive consultative process with both internal and external experts, statutory consultees and the general public on the environmental impact statement.

My Department has also engaged Environmental Resource Management, ERM, to advise on the environmental impact statement submission by Enterprise Energy Ireland. This advice is for the purpose of determining if the EIS conforms with statutory requirements, to advise on its adequacy and to ascertain the likelihood of significant impacts arising from the proposed activities. The environmental statement will be available for inspection by the public as soon as the plan of development is formally submitted to me and a notice published by Enterprise Energy Ireland to this effect. The public is entitled to make submissions or observations to me in relation to the effects on the environment of the proposed development.

The environmental impact statement and the observations-submissions thereon will then be rigorously examined by my Department in consultation with the relevant State agencies and the prescribed bodies, An Taisce, Dúchas and Mayo County Council. When this process has been completed I will be in a position to make a decision on the proposed development.