Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will respond to concerns and a petition by local residents in the coastal areas close to the Kish Bank, regarding the potential dangers to the marine ecosystem, tourism and heritage, resulting from possible oil spills, heavy industrial activity and other environmental impacts if a company (details supplied) gain approval for their current drilling licence application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2581/12]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the State and the Irish people might benefit if the drilling application were to be approved in respect of a company (details supplied) and lead to a successful oil find, in view of the current licensing and tax regime surrounding the exploitation of natural resources such as oil and gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2583/12]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will respond to concerns and a petition by local residents in the coastal areas close to the Kish Bank regarding the potential dangers to the marine ecosystem, tourism and heritage, resulting from possible oil spills, heavy industrial activity and other environmental impacts if a company (details supplied) gain approval for their current drilling licence application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2584/12]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the benefits or otherwise that would accrue to the State and the Irish people if the drilling application were to be approved in respect of a company (details supplied) and lead to a successful oil find, in view of the current licensing and tax regime surrounding the exploitation of natural resources such as oil and gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2582/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 27, 30 and 31 together.

Standard Exploration Licence 2/11 was granted last year to a consortium comprising Providence Resources Plc and Star Energy Oil and Gas Ltd over an area of approximately 380 square kilometres in the Kish bank Basin. The exploration licence is for a six year period with an obligation to drill an exploration well during the first three years. Drilling operators are required to comply with best international practice when carrying out drilling operations offshore Ireland. My Department will only give an approval to drill once it is satisfied that all requirements of its Rules and Procedures for drilling operations, in particular those concerning health, safety and the environment, have been fully met.

Exploration Licence holders are required to engage a competent Independent Well Examiner to verify the safety of all drilling rigs, drilling equipment, pressure containment systems and drilling processes in advance of and during drilling operations. The well examiner has a role for as long as drilling operations continue and is required to verify any changes to drilling plans. Ongoing monitoring by the Independent Well Examiner, my Department's Advisers and my Department's technical specialists continues throughout the drilling of a well. I would of course be happy to respond to any concerns communicated to me or my Department by members of the public.

In relation to the benefits that would accrue to the people of Ireland under the fiscal licensing regime in the event of a commercial discovery being made, the profits from any commercial discovery would be subject to a tax rate of between 25% and 40% under the 2007 Licensing Terms. A commercial discovery could also help strengthen Ireland's energy security of supply and would have a positive impact on Ireland's efforts to attract an increased share of international exploration investment.