Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of recent Supreme Court rulings, he has satisfied himself that the constitutional rights of the residents of Rossport in north County Mayo are not being violated by their being compulsorily obliged to live perilously close to a high-pressure upstream gas pipeline which has no precedent in this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10971/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that section 32 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, does not impugn the constitutional rights of the residents of Rossport in north County Mayo.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that the handing over to a private company (details supplied) of the responsibility for the health and safety of residents of Rossport in north County Mayo, who are being forced to live perilously close to an unprecedented high-pressure gas pipeline, does not constitute a derogation of sovereignty and therefore is not repugnant to the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10972/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The consent by my predecessor for the construction of the Corrib gasfield pipeline was given only after all aspects of the safety of the proposed pipeline were considered and when the then Minister was fully satisfied that the safety aspects would be carried out to the highest possible standard. 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 to construct the pipeline, namely, the 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 431: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has sought the advice of the Attorney General on the constitutionality of granting, by SI 517/2001, to a private company (details supplied) powers of compulsory acquisition over private property in order to construct an unprecedented high-pressure upstream gas pipeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10973/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I should point out to the Deputy that section 32 (1)(a) of the Gas Act 1976 as amended provides that: Any person may apply to the Minister for an order under this section to acquire compulsorily any land or right over land which is required by that person for or in connection with the performance of any function of that person.

In accordance with this section compulsory acquisition orders were issued to the developers.