Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012
13 Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will take the current licensing and tax arrangements for oil and gas finds into account in his decision on whether to grant a foreshore licence to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5758/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra32 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government what precedent there is for granting foreshore licences to drill for oil; how that compares with international standards; his views on the granting of a foreshore licence so close to an special area of conservation (details supplied) in which there are both protected and endangered species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5757/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra33 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of any environmental impact assessments that have been carried out with regard to an application by a company (details supplied) for a foreshore licence to drill for oil 6 km off the coast of Dalkey Island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5755/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra35 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will call for a public inquiry about the application by a company (details supplied) for a foreshore licence to drill for oil 6 km off Dalkey Island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5754/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra39 Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the factors he will take into account in his decision on whether to call for a public inquiry into the current application for a foreshore licence by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5759/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 32, 33, 35 and 39 together.
Primary policy responsibility for the exploitation of offshore natural resources, including the tax regime applicable to such projects, is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Such projects are subject to a number of statutory consents under the Gas Acts, and the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act. Projects involving works within the 12 nautical mile outer limit of the foreshore are also subject to consent under the Foreshore Acts.
My Department has received an application from Providence Resources for a foreshore licence in respect of site investigations and the drilling of an exploratory well off Dalkey. This is the first such application under foreshore legislation for this type of project. The application is currently the subject of a public consultation procedure which commenced on 5 January 2012. The closing date for the receipt of submissions by my Department is today. The application has been referred to standard prescribed body consultees including the Marine Institute, the Marine Survey Office, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In addition, and owing to the nature of the proposal, the application has also been referred to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Wicklow County Council, Dublin Port Company, Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Given the nature of the application, the fact that it is the subject of a public consultation process, and that the decision and related documentation, including the submissions received under the public consultation process, will be published on my Department's website, I do not consider that a public inquiry is necessary.
The proposal will be the subject of an environmental assessment by the scientific and technical advisors on the marine licence vetting committee. Their assessment will involve a detailed examination of the application and related information and the issues raised in the submissions received on foot of the consultation process. The extent of the environmental assessment required will also be informed by the issues that may emerge from the prescribed body and public consultations. It would be expected that the environmental assessment will consider impacts on European sites, sensitive species, other legitimate uses within the area that is the subject of the application, and navigation issues.
I will make a determination on the application in due course, taking account of the recommendation of the marine licence vetting committee and my Department. Should the project progress to commercial exploitation, it would be the subject of further applications for consents from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in the first instance, and then An Bord Pleanála under the Planning Acts, and a lease or licence under the Foreshore Acts, all of which will require the submission of an environmental impact statement and environmental impact assessments by the relevant consent authorities.
