Written answers
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Oil Imports
9:00 pm
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the three countries that provided the highest proportions of Ireland's oil imports in each year since 1998, including 2006; the proportions of Ireland's oil imports provided by each in each year; if the proportion of Ireland's oil imports coming from the UK increased dramatically over that period, the reason for same for this trend; and his plans to reverse it. [32430/07]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The following table is a summary of Ireland's oil import sources from 1998 to 2006.
| Sources of Ireland's oil Imports (000 Tonnes) | |||||
| Year | Most Imports | 2nd highest | 3rd highest | Not specified | Total |
| 1998 | UK, 5,242 – 61% | Norway 3,047 – 35% | 380 | 8,669 | |
| 1999 | UK, 6,299 – 67% | Norway 2,707 – 29% | 400 | 9406 | |
| 2000 | UK, 5,762 – 61% | Norway, 2,950 – 31% | France, 311 – 3% | 381 | 9,404 |
| 2001 | UK, 6,550 – 64% | Norway, 2,897 – 28% | USA, 184 – 2% | 648 | 10,279 |
| 2002 | UK, 7,237 – 70% | Norway, 2,577 – 25% | USA, 286 – 3% | 200 | 10,300 |
| 2003 | UK, 6,866 – 67% | Norway 2,646 – 26% | USA, 207 – 2% | 538 | 10,277 |
| 2004 | UK, 7,196 – 70% | Norway, 2,350 – 23% | USA, 298 – 3% | 381 | 10,225 |
| 2005 | UK, 6,276 – 65% | Norway, 2,699 – 28% | USA, 305 – 3% | 369 | 9,649 |
| 2006 | UK, 6,515 – 66% | Norway, 2,954 – 30% | USA, 99 – 1% | 371 | 9,939 |
The figures indicate there has been no significant increase in imports from the UK between 1998 and 2006.
The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. In these circumstances the sourcing of oil is a commercial matter for oil companies who import oil into Ireland.
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