Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether Shell and its partners would be better advised to adopt an approach similar to that proposed by another company (details supplied) where there will be no production pipeline or inshore refinery and where the local community will benefit greatly compared to the poor return for County Mayo and its residents, which will result from the Corrib gas project as proposed presently by Shell and its partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20490/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The matter of how a commercial field is developed is in the first instance a matter for determination by the developer so it is hypothetical for any company to suggest how they would develop a field before the field has been discovered, let alone before the circumstances of the field are known, or in this case before the company has an exploration licence. Each commercial discovery will be developed in the light of the particular circumstances of the field including inter alia distance from shore, depth of water, size of field, nature of hydrocarbons — oil /gas/condensate etc.

In the case of the Corrib Gas Field the selected development option as determined by the developers was for: A subsea installation over the gas field; An import pipeline to bring the gas to the landfall and to the terminal; and, Onshore gas terminal at Bellanaboy and this is what was covered by the statutory approval granted.

I believe that the Corrib Gas Field has the potential to play a significant role in the economic and social regeneration of Mayo and the northwest region and I have outlined the potential benefits to the House on numerous occasions.