Results 6,001-6,020 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I confirm to the Deputy my satisfaction that the current exploration licensing process is fully compliant with the requirements of both European and domestic law with respect to public participation in environmental assessment, including the requirements of EU Directives 2003/4/EC and 2003/35/EC. The environmental assessment process implemented in Ireland is as follows. In advance of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I fundamentally disagree with the Deputy, who has the matter completely wrong. I have in my hand a list of 100 organisations, all of which were written to, in direct and personal letters, in connection with the EIS document, which is a report on the consultation process. Among those consulted directly were Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Authority, Dún...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the Deputy examines the report to which I refer, she will see that the public consultation process was advertised in the Irish Independent, the Wicklow People, the Wexford People, the Waterford News and Star and the Southern Star. In the advertisement interested parties were invited to read the environmental report and provide feedback and notice was given of the location and dates of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt the Deputy's colleague or anyone else.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Let us get the facts right. I want people to know the full facts and be fully and properly consulted. We are referring to commercial exploration rather than commercial exploitation of the resource. I reassure everyone that if a hydrocarbon discovery were to be made, planning consent from An Bord Pleanála under the strategic infrastructure Acts would more than likely be required; a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 21 and 43 together. The Aarhus Convention, which is implemented through the Public Participation Directive, obliges the State to adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size or location are made subject to an assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Land Acquisitions (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can confirm for the Deputy that neither I nor my Department has had any discussions with Tamboran Resources regarding land purchases.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a core policy objective of my Department to maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for, and production of, our indigenous petroleum resources, while at the same time ensuring that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users. In relation to the Barryroe oil discovery, results of tests carried out earlier...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 39 together. Petroleum exploration authorisations are currently held by a number of companies in respect of areas in the Porcupine Basin off the Kerry coast. Drilling operations have not been carried under any of these authorisations to date, though I understand that plans are in progress for the commencement next year of drilling operations on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have no proposals for a new offshore licensing and permitting regime at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 1January 2008 and to date in 2012 are set out in the following table: Licences Granted during period 2008 – 2012 Year Prospecting Licences (Minerals) Petroleum Exploration Licences 2008 91 5 2009 66 1 2010 93 0 2011 98 2 2012 102 (to 26 Nov. 2012) 0 (to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can confirm, that until there has been time to consider the second stage of the EPA research on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves, the terms of reference for which are currently being scoped, that the use of hydraulic fracturing will not be authorised over any area in the Lough Allen Basin.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: My Department has met with representatives from Tamboran Resources on a number of occasions, one of which such meetings I attended. These meetings are normal practice in the on-going engagement between my Department as regulator and the holders of exploration authorisations. The most recent meeting took place earlier this month when the company provided my Department with a detailed update...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Taxation Policy (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Incremental advances in technologies of relevance to the international oil and gas exploration industry will not in general confer any greater advantage on Ireland relative to other countries with whom Ireland competes to attract mobile international exploration investment. Notwithstanding some positive recent indications, it is worth recalling that the Corrib gas field, which was discovered...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: There are no proposals to amalgamate local development companies into local authorities. The repot, Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government, recommends greater alignment between local government and local development, including the 51 local development companies that currently deliver important programmes for the Department. This follows from the Government's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The report refers to new synergies between local government and development agencies. As regards sharing facilities, if there is space in a local authority office, why should a development agency not go in there, if it is free from its lease? It makes sense to reduce costs, including electricity. The key issue is that it will be recommended, where possible, and it is very practical in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The local development network is an important part of the process and pays a significant local and national contribution. The Minister will establish an implementation group shortly and the network will be part of that. This is to make better use of the money we have through new synergies and directing money to the front line. I can assure the Deputy that nobody is dictating the pace. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 59 together. HomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond insurance scheme has been underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As in the case of any private company , its operations, including how it deals with the management of funds, inspections or claims, are matters for its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect to the Deputy, her figure on the remediation of homes is wrong. The independent report, which I have with me, states that 1,100 homes which were seriously-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme (4 Dec 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt Deputy Collins. The report states that 1,100 homes with serious pyrite problems are being addressed. I concur with the Deputy that all of the families involved are in an awful and extremely difficult position. They purchased homes for a fortune at the height of the market and generally before 2008 only to find significant pyrite problems with their homes. Another 850...