Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the circumstances in which formal consultation is required in relation to licence applications for exploration or development in Northern Ireland that could have a transfrontier element. [32566/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Article 7 of the EIA directive (85/337/EEC) provides for a trans-boundary consultation regime where a project in one Member State is likely to have significant effect on the environment in another Member State. The directive also requires Member States to agree on a reasonable time frame for the duration of the consultation period.

I can inform the Deputy that details of the Petroleum Licence issued by the Northern Ireland authorities in the Lough Allen Basin are in the public domain and do not involve drilling in the first three years of the licence. The onshore petroleum authorisations granted on both sides of the border in the Lough Allen Basin are therefore at a very early stage. Informal contact with the Northern Ireland Authorities will continue in relation to these authorisations.