Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 31:

In page 19, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:

"(f) a comprehensive public information and consultation process has been undertaken to inform and reassure locally effected populations of the safety considerations relating to the project.".

This goes back to my big issue with the Bill, namely, that it must contain a very strong element of public consultation and the giving of reassurance to the public on matters of risk and safety and other issues in respect of projects. To try to be helpful and in an effort to get some consensus from the Minister of State, I will be happy to withdraw amendment No. 31 with a view to pressing amendment No. 32. If this is done a company would not be required to undertake a comprehensive public consultation process during the putting together of a safety case.

In regard to amendment No. 32, I wish to see the commission providing for a submissions process to allow the public to express concerns relating to a project if such concerns exist before a safety permit is issued. I am trying to meet the Minister of State half-way by not making the putting together of a safety case over-bureaucratic for companies, over-expensive and time consuming. However, before a safety permit is granted to allow work to proceed there would be, as part of the permit process, an opportunity for local people or experts to make submissions that might be relevant and of concern to the local community for the CER to consider before granting a work permit. This is the nub of the issue in light of our earlier discussions on public consultation at the framework stage and during the putting together of safety frameworks. A community wants to have its say before a permit is granted to allow work to commence. I accept that we cannot have public consultation processes at every stage without having time or other kinds of limitations regarding companies and the CER. However, we should require it before the permit is granted. On that basis I shall withdraw amendment No. 31 in order to press amendment No. 32.

See this speech in context