Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Senators will be aware that both sides in the dispute responded positively to the indication by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, on Thursday last that the Government would appoint a mediator, provided both sides were willing to respond positively. The injunction has been lifted, and as Senators know, the five Rossport men have been released.

The Minister is now moving to progress matters further. Regarding the mediator, the Minister is in consultation with both sides in an effort to identify a person or body who might be willing to undertake that work. He intends that by this weekend a list of possible mediators will have been provided to both sides to establish their acceptability and see if a name can be agreed. As soon as that process has been completed, the mediator will start work. In the meantime, the two sides are adopting a very positive approach to resolving issues between them.

The Corrib gas field has been a high priority issue for the Minister and he is greatly encouraged by recent developments, which offer an opportunity for both sides to move forward. As a public representative in the west of Ireland, I have been keenly interested in the matter, and I share the Minister's sense of encouragement. I am also keenly aware that the Corrib pipeline is a major infrastructural project with the potential to play a significant role in the economic and social regeneration of Mayo and the north-west region. It will make a real contribution to sustainable development in the area in that it will act as a catalyst for the extension of the Bord Gáis distribution system to towns in the region; facilitate the improvement of the region's infrastructure, particularly its electricity supply and distribution network, thereby removing a major barrier to inward investment; and increase local employment, in both the short and long term.

The development will also increase Ireland's security of supply by providing a reliable and secure indigenous source of gas. With the current rise in oil prices, the strategic value of indigenous gas increases. However, notwithstanding the potential benefits, it is of crucial importance that the project proceed with the agreement of all the interested parties.

It was a source of great regret to me that five Rossport men were committed to prison as a result of their opposition to the proposed pipeline. Over the past three months, my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, has been endeavouring at every opportunity to create the conditions that would allow this matter to be resolved. During that time, and following contact with the five men through an intermediary, he ordered a full safety review of the Corrib on-shore, up-stream pipeline. The Minister also increased the monitoring and supervision of the project. On 25 August last, he appointed Advantica Consultants to conduct a safety review and, more recently, he announced a public consultation process, including a two-day public hearing in the locality, to take place on 12 and 13 October.

Senators may be aware that the Corrib issue was discussed in the Dáil on several occasions last week. The Taoiseach commented on the matter during Leaders' Questions, and I also addressed the House on the issue. The Minister also dealt with the matter in some detail at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The strong message from the various Oireachtas debates was that the issue needed to be moved forward. Late last week, the Minister contacted both sides in an effort to break the impasse and indicated to them that the Government would appoint a mediator if both sides were willing to participate in a mediation process. The Minister then called on both parties to create the conditions which would allow such a process to commence immediately. I am glad to say that both sides responded positively to the Minister's initiative. I share the Minister's hope that the progress made to date, along with the appointment of a mediator, will allow all those concerned to participate fully in the public consultation process of the safety review and to work together to resolve the difficulties that have arisen.

The safety review of the on-shore, up-stream gas pipeline is now under way. It will be thorough and comprehensive and will be carried out by independent, internationally recognised experts. Advantica, the successful bidder, is a world leader in the development and application of advanced hazard and risk-assessment technologies for gas pipelines. The review will examine critically all relevant documentation relating to the design, construction and operation of the pipeline and associated facilities.

Advantica has been asked to identify deficiencies, if any, regarding safety and make recommendations as to how those might be remedied. It is important that people with views relating to the safety of the pipeline should have the opportunity to have them considered by Advantica. That aspect is being addressed, and views are now being invited from local residents, communities and any interested party. Advantica has visited the Corrib site as part of its work, and, as I have stated, a two-day public hearing will be held in Mayo later this month. The hearing will be chaired by John Gallagher SC. The hearing is an opportunity for everyone locally with concerns to clearly express them and ensure that all safety issues are brought to the attention of Advantica for full consideration.

I assure Senators that despite some media comments to the contrary, the safety review will most certainly deal with the issue of the pipeline's proximity to dwellings. Clearly, no safety review could take place without full consideration of that issue. That key question has been at the centre of genuine local concerns about the project. Advantica knows that the issue has to be dealt with fully and explicitly in its work, and it will be.

Local residents are also concerned about the ongoing safety of the pipeline if it were in place. It has been stated, incorrectly, that there is no State agency with specific responsibility for on-shore, up-stream pipeline safety. I assure the House that this is not the case. The Minister has specific powers regarding the safety of the gas pipelines and he will use all legislative mechanisms available to him to ensure that safety in installations and the operation of such pipelines are addressed and policed properly. The Minister also intends, as he outlined in the Dáil last July, that a clear regime for the operation and maintenance of the pipeline be put in place. The safety regime will be spelt out clearly and will be in place before the first gas flows through the pipeline from the Corrib field. The Minister will ensure that the highest standards of safety apply and that procedures are open and transparent. If Advantica makes any recommendations on those issues in its final report they will be fully taken into account in the preparation of final consents.

I now turn to the legal basis for the gas field. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is responsible for regulatory aspects of petroleum exploration and development. Authorisations were granted for the Corrib gas field under several provisions. Under the Continental Shelf Act 1968, authorisation was given for the construction of sub-sea facilities within the continental shelf designated areas. Consent was also granted for the plan for the development of the field under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960. Under the Gas Act 1976, as amended, consents were given for the construction of a gas pipeline from the gas field from off shore to the terminal building. A foreshore licence was also granted under the Foreshore Acts. In accordance with EU directives, an environmental impact assessment was carried out and an environmental impact statement submitted with each application for consent or approval.

It has been suggested that the terminal might be sited off shore. The reality, however, is that the proposal made by the developers to the Department was for an onshore terminal only. This option was considered by the developers to be the most appropriate. I understand it is now becoming common practice to place terminals onshore rather than at sea. After consideration of a number of sites of entry for the pipeline, the developers proposed to bring it ashore at Dooncarton in Broadhaven Bay. Their proposal, which has since been approved, was to run the pipeline for 9 km to the terminal site.

It is clear that while the matter is by no means resolved, significant progress has been made which can be built on through the mediation process as well as the safety review and public hearing. The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, will continue to listen to the health and safety concerns of residents in the vicinity of the Corrib onshore pipeline and will continue his commitment to having these issues dealt with through the appropriate mechanisms.