Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce legislation to facilitate geothermal combined heat and power projects; and the timescale for same. [3363/10]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding geothermal energy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3418/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 147 together.

The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, and I have stated on a number of occasions our commitment to the early provision of a legislative framework for the exploration for and development of geothermal energy. Accordingly, in the course of 2009, I instructed my Department to prioritise the drafting of a general scheme of a Bill with a view to producing heads in early 2010, with detailed legislative drafting to follow by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Considerable progress has been made in this regard and I understand that the drafting of the heads is on target for completion in February 2010.

It is important to stress that geothermal energy is a new area of legislative endeavour in this jurisdiction and the Bill is likely to be substantial, dealing with a range of matters such as ownership of the resource, regulation and licensing of exploration and development, ancillary rights and protection of third party interests. We have engaged closely with industry and interested parties in a series of meetings and workshops to ensure legislative proposals have the benefit of their input. While the preparation of legislation is being expedited urgently, it is not possible at this juncture to commit to a date for publication.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Unlike the answer to the previous question, I welcome the answer to this one. While it is overdue, introducing legislation to facilitate geothermal technology will allow a new and renewable source of district heating systems and energy generation through gas turbine technology. This is quite a substantial industry in other European countries and can also provide a major source of heat and energy generation capacity here. I encourage the Minister to bring the legislation before the House as soon as possible.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I appreciate the Deputy's comments in that regard. It is a major Bill and needs to be drafted at the same time as we are producing the minerals development Bill, which is also very extensive. However, I believe it will be possible to develop both Bills quickly and I look forward to introducing them.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I am surprised that this question was not answered by the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan; perhaps he is away on other business. The Minister of State has made the introduction of geothermal legislation a priority. He certainly talked the talk when he attended a meeting of the Oireachtas committee. There is considerable disappointment now because developers who want to engage in this kind of exploration and develop a renewable resource had felt some optimism following what the Minister of State had said. However, it now seems it is all back to some kind of commitment that it will happen at some time in the future. Is the Minister, Deputy Ryan, now again responsible for geothermal legislation?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It falls under the remit and brief of the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. He is absolutely right that it is being given priority. Resources from my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are being allocated to it to get it over the line as quickly as possible. Getting the heads of a Bill in February, in the very short time since it was proposed to take that action, is a very quick response. When the Deputy sees the Bill she will understand its scale. It will be in place some months after that and hopefully put into action by a range of different developers.