Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the time frame for the completion and publication of the report from the geothermal working group; his views on the need for legislation to clear the way for development and exploration of geothermal energy; his plans to incorporate same into the Minerals Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18715/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated in the reply to Parliamentary Question number 59 of 12th March 2009, complex legal issues arise in regard to geothermal energy, which have not been addressed previously and these are currently being examined by the Office of the Attorney General. I would, however, expect to receive the recommendations of the Geothermal Working Group in the next few weeks when it is intended to publish the results of these deliberations on the Department's website. I will then decide on the need for legislation and an appropriate regulatory framework.

While there are broad similarities between geothermal energy and minerals in terms of development requirements, work is continuing on a separate footing to finalise a draft of the proposed Minerals Development Bill, which is expected to be published after the summer recess 2009.