Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I published a major Government policy statement yesterday on the delivery of energy infrastructure. A significant part of what is envisaged in this regard involves setting down principles of both community engagement and community gain. Both of those principles are equally relevant in this case. At the beginning of the Corrib project, a good relationship was fostered with the local community. It appears, however, that, under the new arrangement, the company took its eye off the ball and issues that were raised in respect of safety were not handled in as sensitive a fashion as might have been the case. Of course, we have moved on a great deal since then. The State has bent over backwards to ensure, in so far as is humanly possible, that there are no safety concerns. The campaign that emerged has moved from safety concerns to entirely different preoccupations. It has been damaging to the country's international reputation. Deputy Durkan is correct that the industry and the Government must learn lessons from the experience at Corrib. The greatest concern is that, in circumstances where the country has been drilling one hole or two holes on average every year, the impact may be to deter companies from exploration and drilling off our shore and that is not in the best economic interests of the country. Lessons can be learned and I hope we have learned them.

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