Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

Mr. Moore's report was on the initial planning application to An Bord Pleanála, which considered it very carefully and decided not to accept its recommendation. It was fully considered. The only people who seem to think the CPI view should be considered are those who constantly say "No" to everybody else.

Deputy Durkan and Deputy Broughan raised a question, which Deputy Broughan tried to clarify, on the effect of this amendment. If the Act was commenced as it stands there is a danger, which I will not overstate, that all the consents for this project, for transmission lines and other State planning applications requiring approval would fall. This amendment removes that doubt.

The second part of the Deputy's question was what would happen if Shell wanted to move the terminal, the pipeline or the whole installation. That would be dealt with under the new procedures in the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. The Deputy asked whether there would be a speedy way of dealing with it. I am not sure how speedy it would be but that is the purpose of the Act and such an issue would be dealt with under that Act. It would not have to go through all the previous procedures that were required.

Deputy Cowley quoted from a TG4 poll and Deputy Broughan has details of a poll Shell also carried out in that area.

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