Written answers
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Prospecting Licences
Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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1127. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the granting of onshore options licences granted to companies (details supplied) to prospect onshore in the north-west carboniferous basin and the Clare basins complied with the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37473/15]
Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy’s reference to compliance with the Aarhus Convention is made in the context of the public’s right to participate in decision-making in environmental matters, for example projects affecting the environment, or plans and programmes relating to the environment. Granting of a Licensing Option of itself is not a permission to carry out a project that would affect the environment. The work programmes carried out under the Licensing Options were primarily of a desk-top study nature. Had the holders of the Licensing Options proposed to undertake projects likely to have a significant effect on the environment then such activities would have been subject to Environmental Impact Assessment, which would have included public participation. The companies would have also had to hold a Petroleum Prospecting Licence and the process through which such licences may be granted also involves public participation.
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