Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 283: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide details of where the public can view the documents submitted in compliance with the consent issued under EU Directive 85/337EEC as amended, in respect of the development of the Corrib Gas pipeline. [23689/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under Directive 85/337 and 97/11, assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, the developers of the Corrib gas field project submitted to my predecessor an environmental impact statement, EIS, together with their application for consent to construct a pipeline. In accordance with the requirements of EU and national legislation, the documentation was put on public display by the developers for a period of one month for the making of objections and representations on the application.

The environmental aspects of the development were examined fully by the marine licence vetting committee, MLVC, which is an independent body composed of professional experts across the disciplines relevant to the project. In addressing the EIS, the MLVC brought its own expertise to bear and fully examined any views of interested parties and those expressed by persons who, during the public consultation process, submitted observations. Following the consultation process and the MLVC deliberations, it submitted to my predecessor its considered views and recommendations.

In line with the commitment given at a seminar held in Geesala on 25 July 2001 and in the interests of transparency, the MLVC report on which my predecessor's decisions on the various applications were based was published. The Department and the environmental monitoring group, EMG, which was set up as a condition attaching to the various approvals, are monitoring the documentation submitted by the developers in compliance with the conditions attached to the pipeline consent. The EMG is composed of professional experts from the Department and other bodies across the disciplines relevant to the environmental conditions attached to the various approvals as well as departmental officials and members of Mayo County Council, Shell E & P Ireland Limited and representatives from various local Mayo residents groups. This group meets on a monthly basis and has the responsibility, inter alia, of exchanging information on the Corrib gas field project in respect of environmental management and monitoring. There is no prohibition on any individual member or representative group on the EMG providing this information publicly. I am aware that the resident groups' members hold regular meetings in their communities and this would be an appropriate opportunity for disseminating this information.