Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I do not propose to accept Deputy Coveney's amendments. Having listened to the concerns raised on Committee Stage, I believe that the additional public consultation process I proposed in the context of the safety framework, together with the existing consultation process in the designation of petroleum activities and the development of safety case guidelines, allows a high degree of access by the public to both the establishment and implementation of the safety framework regime. I believe there is now sufficient scope for any concerns members of the public might have to be addressed.

The chair allows for submissions on framework and guidelines. The Bill also provides that the permit must be published so there is no secrecy about the outcome and there is no precedent internationally for this type of approach, as I pointed out at earlier stages in this discussion. The commissioner for energy regulation has a public remit and therefore is always open to the public in that regard, like any public body which may be subject to submissions, views, lobbying or whatever is required. Commissioners are not shrinking violets in that regard but are open to representation of one kind or another.

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