Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

The Dáil should be responsible for this matter. It should have to give the final approval in this regard. I will give an example of that. As no code of practice was provided for when the Minister gave consent to the production pipeline for the Corrib gas project, the pipeline in question is illegal. Therefore, the company in question is able to do what it wants. That cannot be right, clearly. If the Dáil had been given responsibility in this regard, there would have been some accountability. No planning permission was given for the cold venting of gas, which is another issue. Shell, which is the main promoter of the project, was not prepared to look outside Bellanaboy as a location for the terminal. The Dáil should be accountable in circumstances of this nature for the reasons I have mentioned.

Given the pipeline is coming into County Mayo and taking gas from the county, and in light of the protests which have taken place, it is only equitable and fair that the pipeline will be used to bring gas to towns in the county. That is the way I have always said it should be and that is the way it will be. I hope the Minister will ensure that gas is brought to all the towns in County Mayo, including Belmullet and Ballinrobe, because they all deserve gas.

The Dáil should have a say in what is happening. The Minister, who is continuing to issue licences, has said there will be no change in the terms of the licences until 2007 even though he promised, as a result of a Private Members' motion, to provide for a review of those terms by the end of this year. He is issuing licences and assuring those in the industry that they do not need to worry because he will not change anything until 2007. I would like the Minister to respond to my remarks in this regard.

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