Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Will there be a clear provision for consultation for local community interest groups? Fine Gael was very concerned about the inordinate 15-year delay that occurred in respect of the Corrib pipeline. There was a lack of transparency and awareness, and if there had been a better public education and consultation campaign at the outset, it might have helped.

It would be welcome if the Minister of State said on the record of the House that he viewed that properly organised and elected local interest groups, such as local community councils, local environmental action groups and so on, would be part of a consultation process as well as the industry and all relevant safety authorities, public authorities and scientific bodies. There should be a democratic dimension to this in terms of public consultation with local interest groups. That would be a confidence-building measure and would make for a better delivery of energy in our country. Had this been the case following the Corrib gas find, we would not have had the inordinate delay and the fraught situation that has ensued.