Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a distinction in terms of responsibility. It is addressed elsewhere so I am not accepting this amendment but I wish to put on record that the ultimate responsibility is not borne by the State. As a Cork man, the Deputy will have experience in respect of what is happening and what is in place in Kinsale. The decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure at the end of field life is addressed by the petroleum lease granted to the developer once the commerciality of a field has been determined. The decommissioning regime that is in place in Ireland for the Kinsale area gas fields and the Corrib gas field is based on the full cost of decommissioning being borne by the holders of the petroleum lease and not by the State. A petroleum lease also includes a condition that requires a parent guarantee which means that a deed of guarantee and an indemnity in favour of the Minister must be given by each leasee. As this Bill is focused on safety and the prevention of major accidents and the question of liability for the cost of decommissioning is already addressed elsewhere, I do not propose to accept this amendment. However, the Deputy has raised an important issue, namely, the question of who bears the responsibility - the State or the operator. It clearly says elsewhere that it is developer who bears the responsibility.

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