Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

We are safe thankfully. It is a very serious issue. Could the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources be invited to the House to give a statement on it? It was apparently a 4.0 magnitude earthquake and it has serious implications for the oil and gas industry off the coast of Mayo, in particular. There have been a number of calls this morning for clarification, particularly from Councillor Rose Conway-Walsh, regarding the infrastructure of the oil and gas pipelines off the coast and whether any damage has been done. In addition, when the development of the Corrib gas field and other fields off the west coast of Ireland was taking place, did the environmental impact statements take into consideration that there might be seismic activity of this type? Was that factored in and was seismic testing carried out? It is potentially a serious issue. If any damage was done to that infrastructure, it could have catastrophic repercussions.

Bheadh fáilte roimh an tAire, an Teachta Rabbitte, teacht isteach agus cúlra an scéil a thabhairt agus a mhíniú dúinn céard go díreach a tharla agus an bhfuil an tír seo ag coinneáil súile ar na gnóthaí seo agus an bhfuil muid ag tógáil na cúinsí is sábhailte agus is sláintiúla san áireamh gur cóir a dhéanamh.