Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Nolan.

Cuireann sé áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar seo. Is cuimhin liom gur labhair mé féin agus go leor Teachtaí eile, an Teachta Cowley ina measc, ag cruinniú mór i mBéal an Mhuirthead cúpla bliain ó shin ag a raibh muid ar fad ar aon tuairim go mba cheart an gás a chur ar fáil do mhuintir Mhaigh Eo. Níl aon athrú ar m'intinn ó shin, agus creidim go gcaithfidh muid próiseas ciallmhar staidéarach a leanacht agus an gás a thabhairt i dtír.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá fíorghá sa tír seo, má tá próiseas ann atá féaráilte agus cothrom, go leanfar é agus go nglacfar le cinnithe an phróisis sin. Seans go raibh mearbhall ar an bpobal faoi rud amháin. Nuair a bhí cead an Aire ag teastáil, cheap daoine gurbh é an tAire go teicniúil a bhí ag déanamh an bhreithúnais. Ní raibh sé sin fíor ar chor ar bith. Ba é grúpa comhairleoireachta teicniúil sa Roinn a rinne é. Bhí an chuma sin ar an scéal, áfach, agus tuigim gur tharla sé seo de bharr gurb é Bord Gáis amháin a thógann píblínte. Bhí cead an Aire ag teastáil, agus sílim go raibh cinneadh an-chiallmhar déanta ag an Aire go gcuirfí cead ó thaobh cúrsaí sábháilteachta go soiléir faoi chúram an CER.

Because of the confusion that arose as a result of ministerial consents for various aspects, and even though he was dependent on the advice of the technical advisory group, I felt there was room for confusion as to whether the Minister personally had an involvement in safety decisions. As a Minister I know that if one was given safety advice one could not go against it but I welcome the decision by my colleague to put this matter at arm's length under the Commission for Energy Regulation.

At the meeting in Belmullet a number of years ago I made it clear, and I have checked the transcript, that it was my view that the decisions of the likes of An Bord Pleanála were independent and should remain independent. Whereas I might postulate on the likely decision, as Minister he had no input into it. Similarly, we must accept that the Environmental Protection Agency has responsibility for emissions and that it is not subject to political pressure or influence. Both sides of any argument should accept the decision and if we do not accept it we should proceed not to accept it through the appropriate channels put in place. I am delighted the safety issues will now be put at arm's length because it will clarify an issue that those of us within the system knew there was clarity on but which I accept led to confusion outside the system. People will now know that somebody independent has made a judgment in terms of relative safety.

We must accept that life is dangerous. By definition, nothing is absolutely safe. If we were talking about absolute safety we would ban motor cars, aeroplanes and boats. To be honest, we would ban living because in most areas of life there is a risk. What is normally assessed by people when they are doing safety audits are relative risks, not zero risks. If we were to go on the basis of a zero risk policy very few human activities would be allowed.

On the main issue, a find has been made and terms agreed. The Minister will review it in terms of future policy but it must be said that on the open market we are not exactly awash with people prospecting in our waters. The position is that 85% of our gas is imported and we produce 50% of our electricity from gas, which is to increase to 60%. Of the fossil fuels, gas is the most friendly in terms of the environment.

We know that the United Kingdom is rapidly losing its self-sufficiency in gas and that we are facing the prospect of importing gas from eastern Europe. The people will not forgive us in a few years' time if we have an insecure supply of gas from eastern Europe, and we saw what happened this year, when we had gas off our west coast that we did not take ashore. As I said, in taking it ashore we should follow proper procedures. I will accept the decision on the procedures but they should be, and will be in the future, at arm's length. I am aware that even under the current arrangement, where the Minister's name might be on it, there are clear procedures in place in terms of evaluation. I believe this gas should be brought ashore. I accept that Shell has planning permission for a terminal in Ballinaboy given by An Bord Pleanála, an independent agency.

One aspect about which I was concerned but which is now being addressed in a constructive way is that the gas would be brought ashore on the west coast but be of little direct benefit to the people of the west. As a Minister, I have to take a national view but we must talk about balanced regional development.

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