Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if a health and safety possibility (details supplied) has been addressed by the EIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7270/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The environmental impact statement, EIS, dealt specifically with environmental matters and the quantified risk assessment, QRA, addressed safety issues, among other things. The design codes for the pipeline as proposed by the developers in its QRA took into account the issues raised by the Deputy.

As part of my Department's evaluation of the plan of development process including pipelines, an independent evaluation of the pipeline design code was commissioned from an experienced petroleum pipeline consultant, Mr. Andrew Johnston. The consultant's report entitled "Corrib Gas Pipeline Project: Report on Evaluation of Onshore Pipeline Design Code", submitted to my Department in March 2002 concluded as follows: the pipeline design code has been selected in accordance with best public safety considerations and is appropriate for the pipeline operating conditions; the design of the onshore pipeline is generally in accordance with code selection and best national and international industry practice, provided that the actions recommended in section 2.2 are followed; the pipeline is considered to be adequately protected from third party interference by burial to 1.2 metres and provision of marker tape above the pipeline; the pipeline is considered to meet public safety requirements as outlined in the selected design code, provided that the actions recommended in section 2.2 are followed.

The recommendations of section 2.2 have been incorporated in the statutory approvals issued for the Corrib development. The design of the control system ensures that any damage to the umbilical system will result in the gas wells being shut down. I advise the Deputy that all subsea wells are designed in this way.