Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of the claim made by the Government to the mineral rights of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain at the UN Commission on the Law of the Sea, he will make assurances that any development of these rights will be done in the most environmentally sensitive way possible and that the benefits of these minerals will belong primarily to the people here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19969/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question refers to mineral rights. In fact, the submission to the UN also covers petroleum rights. Once the submission is agreed by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, UNCLCS, Ireland will designate by law the area claimed, or any part of it, for the purposes of the exploration and production of natural resources.

Development and production operations will be subject to the same environmental regime and standards as apply to similar activities within our existing designated continental shelf area, that is, within which Ireland can licence exploration and production operations.

Sea-bed and sub-sea resources in this area will belong to the State, on the same basis as do resources within the existing designated area.