Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I would like to make a final point. I agree with some, but not all, of what the Minister of State has said. I do not think all of the concerns are spurious or are led by conspiracy theories, although some of them may be. There are plenty of people who have genuine concerns. In my view, they have an entitlement to make comments and ask questions before it is decided to grant a safety permit for a big project that will affect their communities. We are not providing for that in this legislation. I am withdrawing my amendment that asked for "a comprehensive public information and consultation process" to be undertaken as part of the safety case being made by a company. The amendment I am now pursuing states, "the Commission shall before deciding whether or not to issue a safety permit, allow for submissions to be made by the public in relation to safety issues or concerns relating to the project under consideration for a safety permit". I am asking for a ten-day period - or any other period the Government may decide on - to be provided so that local people, or anybody else, can make submissions. I suggest that the CER be required to take note of such submissions before it makes a decision on a permit. That is a useful belt and braces approach, as well as a useful pressure valve that will allow the local community to get its concerns off its chest before a decision is made. It is not an extra layer of bureaucracy.

If we have learned one thing from the Corrib affair, it is that when the State takes a hardline approach to try to drive things through - when it reduces the process in terms of bureaucracy, etc. - it does not work. It has not worked. People resist that type of approach by digging their heels in. They are prepared to martyr themselves for their communities, if necessary by getting sent to prison. That is why Ireland is now perceived as a country in which it is difficult to develop this kind of project. Rather than providing for some kind of tokenism after decisions are made, or at some early planning stage when local people do not even know that planning is taking place, which will be the case with the safety framework proposal, we need to find imaginative ways of giving local communities an opportunity to speak before decisions are made. I have made my case. I will withdraw the more extreme amendment, which would have imposed an extra layer of bureaucracy and expense on companies. I will press the more moderate amendment, which would give local communities an opportunity to express concerns in writing to the CER before decisions are made.

See this speech in context