I am advised that the policy framework utilised at the time by the then Department of the Marine and Natural Resources provided that the licensing terms and fiscal regime for oil and gas exploration was designed to maximise the benefits to the national economy from the exploration for, and production of, indigenous oil and gas resources.
To facilitate this the Department organised discussions between representatives the Irish Offshore Operators Association, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Offshore Suppliers Association on the utilisation of Irish resources and services in the offshore petroleum industry.
The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources at the time made clear there were no powers available to it to require undertakings in regard to jobs or the provision of services to the companies involved in offshore exploration. The imposition of such conditions would be precluded under EU rules. Responsibility for employment and the provision of workers are matters for the exploration companies and their contractors.
The free movement of labour is enshrined in EU law and Ireland is not in a position to insist on employers giving priority to Irish workers over other EU citizens. Neither, however, is an operator or a contractor to misuse EU Directives and to disregard or discriminate against Irish suppliers of goods and services.
It was against the above policy framework that the meeting took place with the public representatives and this position was explained to them.
