Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on concerns regarding the impact of seismic surveying in the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30693/12]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on concerns regarding the impact of seismic surveying in the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30692/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 124 together.

In March of this year Shell E & P Ireland Ltd applied to my Department for permission to acquire 3D seismic data over the Corrib Field. The survey, which commenced on 17 June, 2012 is being undertaken to supplement the 3D seismic data previously acquired on the Corrib Field in 1997. The primary objective of the survey is to improve the imaging over the Corrib Field.

The type of survey being undertaken involves Ocean Bottom Cables on the seabed laid by a cable laying vessel and a second vessel equipped with air guns, for the deployment and operation of the seismic sources.

A seismic air gun unit is basically a large piston with a plunger that discharges a compressed air bubble into the water at considerable pressure thereby creating a sound source. This sound is comparable in magnitude to many naturally occurring and other man-made sounds. The specific characteristics of seismic sounds and the operational procedures employed during seismic survey are such that resulting risks to marine mammals are generally expected to be very low. Nevertheless, the assessment of any potential impacts is undertaken by my Department, and mitigation measures are implemented to further reduce the risk of harm to marine mammals.

When assessing seismic survey applications, my Department consults with a number of other bodies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

On 20 April of this year, my Department conveyed approval for the carrying out of the requested survey, subject to a number of conditions, including that all operations should be conducted in compliance with the NPWS's Code of Practice for the Protection of Marine Mammals during Acoustic Seafloor Surveys in Irish Waters. The approval also required that a Fisheries Liaison Officer and a Marine Mammal Observer would be on board the vessel for the duration of the survey.

The conditions that apply to this survey are consistent with the conditions that apply to other such surveys in the Irish offshore.