Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 851: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a request for a public enquiry was rejected before his Department issues a foreshore licence for a company (details supplied) to commence drilling in Dublin bay; if he has considered the submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18484/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the topical issue debate on this matter taken on 28 February 2012. Given that the nature of the current application is for site investigation purposes only and the drilling of an exploratory well, the fact that it has already been the subject of a public and prescribed bodies consultation process, and that the submissions received under this process and the responses of the applicant to these have been published on my Department's website, I do not consider that a public inquiry is warranted.

I will consider the recommendation of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee and my Department in due course in making a determination on the licence application. The determination and supporting documentation will also be published on my Department's website.

Without prejudging my eventual determination of the current application, it is important to recognise that should the project progress to commercial exploitation it would be the subject of further formal applications for consents from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in the first instance, and then An Bord Pleanála under the Planning Acts, and a full lease or licence under the Foreshore Acts, all of which will require an Environmental Impact Assessment, including full public consultation and where appropriate, oral hearing.