Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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433. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will discuss the expert advice on offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production and their tax and fiscal terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40797/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In the context of the conclusion on 9 July 2013 of the Dáil debate on the findings of the Report of the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, I stated that I intended seeking independent expert advice on the “fitness-for-purpose” of Ireland's fiscal terms for oil and gas exploration, development and production. On 24 September 2013 my Department issued a request for tenders notice on the etenders.gov.ie website seeking tenders for the provision of such expert advice.

The scope of the assignment set for potential tenderers in the request for tenders is as follows:

“Having regard to the fact that Ireland's indigenous oil and gas resources belong to the people and to the policy goal of maximising the benefits to the State from exploration for and extraction of those resources, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources seeks expert advice as to:

(i) The “fitness for purpose” of Ireland's current fiscal regime for oil and gas exploration, development and production having regard to:

-The petroleum prospectivity of the Irish offshore

-Ireland's relative attractiveness as a location for mobile international exploration investment

-The findings of the May 2012 report of the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, together with the debate of that report by Dáil Éireann

-Other relevant reports

-Comparative international experience

(ii) Supported by analysis, whether revisions should be made to the fiscal licensing regime, in particular having regard to:

-The level at which the terms are set

-The nature of the instruments used

-The tax reliefs available”.

It is anticipated that the successful tenderer will complete its work on this assignment early next year.