Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason and the way in which the onshore section of the high-pressure upstream gas pipeline between landfall and the proposed refinery at Ballinaboy in north County Mayo, which is above high water mark, was subsumed by his Department under the former Minister of State, Deputy Fahey; the further reason the pipeline was exempted from the normal planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10966/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will move to clarify the legal limbo that appears to exist along the 9 km onshore section of the proposed upstream gas pipeline in Rossport in north County Mayo along which no State body is prepared to take responsibility for the health and safety of the residents who are compulsorily obliged to live along the pipeline route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10974/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 432 together.

The export gas pipeline including the onshore section of the pipeline for the Corrib gas field is an integral part of the plan of development for the gas field. The statutory approvals, consents and licences issued to date have all been issued in strict compliance with all national legislation requirements.

It should be noted that the present position is that no consent has been given to date to install the onshore pipeline. The Minister will ensure that the condition in the consent whereby "line inspection and maintenance procedures will be subject to review and acceptance by Petroleum Affairs Division (of this Department) prior to commissioning" will be fully complied with by the developer. All public safety issues relating to the operation of the pipeline will be addressed prior to commissioning in this context, including the regime to be put in place to ensure safe operation of the pipeline.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the contents of the quantified risk assessment commissioned by and carried out on behalf of the developers of the Corrib gas project concerning the onshore section of the unprecedented high-pressure upstream gas pipeline between landfall and the proposed refinery at Ballinaboy in north County Mayo; the way in which he justifies, based on the contents of that report, the imposition of a risk environment on the residents of Rossport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10967/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The decision to grant consent for the construction of the Corrib gas pipeline was based on a range of factors including the proposed design codes for this pipeline as submitted to my predecessor for consideration by the developers. The consultant who evaluated the onshore pipeline design code indicated that the design code had been selected in accordance with best public safety considerations. He further indicated that it is appropriate for the pipeline operating conditions and, subject to the developers undertaking to comply with a number of conditions laid down in the then Minister's approval and consent, the design is generally in accordance with best national and international industry practice and the pipeline is considered to meet public safety requirements.

In addition, a quantified risk assessment, QRA, was undertaken for the onshore section of the pipeline which included a detailed analysis of the risk of damage to the pipeline and consequences of any such damage for public safety. The content of this report was taken into account in the decision-making process relating to consent to construct a pipeline.