Natural Gas Grid.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2005

Tuesday, 8 March 2005

Ceisteanna (212)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

247 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that design code BS 8010, which is the design code in use for the proposed onshore section of the high pressure upstream Corrib gas pipeline, North Mayo, connecting the wellhead to the refinery at Ballinaboy, is no longer applicable as this code has been withdrawn and replaced by the relevant European Standard; if he intends to rectify this breach of the European Standard; the name of the Irish national standards authority that is bound to implement the European Standard according to CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the continued authorisation of a superseded code in breach of European regulations. [7834/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I am aware that BS 8010-2.8:1992 is the standard being employed for the design of the onshore upstream Corrib gas pipeline. I am also aware that this standard has been withdrawn by BSI and is superseded by EN 14161:2003, petroleum and natural gas industries-pipeline transportation systems.

The use of the BS standard is not a breach of any European standard. As these standards are voluntary documents there is no legal requirement for the pipeline constructor to apply any one standard in particular. There is no reason to believe that there is any safety implication in using this withdrawn standard. Most European standards have been developed in order to harmonise practice throughout Europe and have no extra safety requirements over and above the requirements contained in the various national standards that preceded them. The use of this superseded standard is not a breach of any European regulations.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, is obliged to publish all European standards as Irish standards, ISEN, and is also obliged, under CEN internal regulations, to withdraw any conflicting national standards when they publish a European standards as an ISEN. This I understand is an obligation on the NSAI alone. The Deputy should note that the NSAI has published EN14161 as an Irish standard.