Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he and his Department intend to review the Petroleum and Other Minerals Act 1960; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34088/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 is the principal statute underpinning Ireland’s mineral, oil and gas exploration licensing regimes. Since it was enacted, a broad body of legislation at national and European Union level that is directly relevant to oil and gas exploration and production activities, including planning, safety and environmental legislation, has been passed. Against that background, my Department is currently engaged in a review of the oil and gas exploration aspects of the Act. Insofar as those sections of the Act which refer to non-petroleum minerals are concerned, these will be addressed in the proposed new Minerals Development Bill, which will modernise and consolidate the existing Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999.