Written answers
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Offshore Exploration
8:00 pm
Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 994: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the names of the companies awarded licences for oil and gas exploration off the coast of County Donegal over the past five years; and the date that each of these licences were awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38424/09]
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Six Frontier Exploration Licences were awarded in areas off the County Donegal coast in the past five years. Five of these licences are still active. Details of the licences awarded are provided in the table.
| Licence Number | Date Awarded | Companies awarded licence |
| 1/05 | 20 January 2005(surrendered 19 January 2007) | * Lundin Exploration BVIsland Donegal LimitedRamco Donegal LimitedPetroceltic Erris LimitedSunningdale Donegal Basin Limited |
| 2/05 | 1 July 2005 | * Shell E&P Ireland LimitedEni Ireland BV.OMV (IRELAND) Exploration GmbH |
| 3/05 | 1 July 2005 | * Island Oil and Gas plc |
| 2/06 | 1 December 2006 | *Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Ltd.Shell E&P Ireland Ltd. |
| 3/06 | 1 December 2006 | * Island Oil and Gas plcLundin Exploration BVEndeavour Energy UK Limited |
| 1/09 | 21 July 2009 | *Serica Energy (UK) Limited |
* Licence Operator
A map of all current exploration licences in the Donegal, Erris, Rockall and Slyne basins off the North West coast can be found at: www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/27EFAACF-8991-4A7C-A23E-CC70884C0388/0/Concession_Map_Donegal.pdf
Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 995: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the current economic climate, he will review the terms and conditions of oil and gas exploration licences with a view to securing a more beneficial agreement for the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38425/09]
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland needs to reduce its dependence on imported energy and successful development of indigenous energy resources including our hydrocarbon resources, can help achieve this. The Department is actively engaged in promoting opportunities for exploration for oil and gas offshore Ireland in order to attract an increased share of mobile international exploration investment to Ireland.
The terms offered to companies exploring for oil and gas offshore Ireland have been carefully balanced to attract those willing to invest money in high-risk exploration while still giving the State a fair share of profits where a commercial discovery is made.
New terms, which apply to all exploration licences awarded after the beginning of 2007, were put into effect in the 2008 Finance Act and provide for a tax rate of up to 40% on more profitable oil or gas discoveries. This compares to the standard corporation tax rate of 12.5%.
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