Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether a person (details supplied) would contradict their earlier opinion and so expose their work to the charge of negligence. [9601/05]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether it is a credible response on his part, to ask a person (details supplied) to review a non-technical version of a QRA they have already passed as being adequate for the requirements of his Department. [9608/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 181 together.

I understand from Shell E&P Ireland Limited that the proposed non-technical summary of the quantified risk assessment, QRA, is intended to provide the general public with a self-explanatory layman's understanding and interpretation. It will not be subject to any assessment by me in the context of Shell's application for consent to install its onshore pipeline.

As I have already stated my Department is at present considering an application for consent to install the onshore pipeline. Both the QRA and the Johnston report to which I have referred previously will form part of this process. In so far as there may be issues in the QRA that need further clarification, elaboration or even additional material, Mr. Andrew Johnston and other independent consultants, will be providing the necessary advice to my Department.

On 21 February 2005, Shell reactivated its application for consent to install and commission phase 3 — onshore pipeline and umbilical originally submitted in June 2002. On 24 February 2005, my Department wrote to Shell requesting the clarification and elaboration of certain information and studies provided in the 2002 application. Officials from my Department met Shell on Friday, 4 March 2005 to discuss these issues further. In the course of this meeting Shell advised that the company had appointed Shell Global Solutions to carry out a peer review on the QRA and any associated reports-studies submitted to my Department by the then operator Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited. Shell has agreed to submit these reports to my Department by early April of this year. It is my intention to appoint a consultant, who is an expert in quantified risk assessment, to review these documents and report to me on all aspects and especially that of public safety. I intend to publish these reports immediately when available.

It is my intention to progress consideration of the application for consent to install the upstream pipeline in an open, balanced and informed manner. My decision to publish the full suite of documents mentioned above, prior to my making a decision, will, hopefully, allay local fears in regard to the safety of the pipeline and the process being adopted.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will seek permission from a company (details supplied) to publish the original QRA, in order that a proper comparison can be made between the original as presented to him and the non-technical version. [9607/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is no doubt aware from my reply to him on 10 March, Shell E&P Ireland Limited appointed Shell Global Solutions to carry out a peer review on the QRA and any associated reports-studies submitted to my Department by the then operator Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited, EEI, in connection with its application for consent to construct a pipeline in 2001. Shell has agreed to submit these reports to my Department by early April of this year. It is my intention to appoint a consultant who is an expert QRA to review these documents and report to me on all aspects. I intend to publish these reports immediately when available.