Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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796. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of discussions with the owners of the Whitegate refinery regarding potential buyers with a view to maintaining the operation of this vital energy supply asset for Ireland and the direct and indirect employment the facility provides to the surrounding region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22016/16]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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797. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to ensure the future operation of the Whitegate oil refinery which plays a vital role in securing Ireland's energy supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22017/16]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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798. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of discussions with the owners of the Whitegate refinery regarding potential buyers ahead of the expiry of its licence later this month, with a view to maintaining the operation of this key national energy supply asset and the employment it gives to the surrounding area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22143/16]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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799. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the future operation of the Whitegate oil refinery, which plays a vital role in securing our energy supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22144/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 to 799, inclusive, together.

Ireland has a single, privately owned, refinery in Whitegate, Cork.  The owners, Phillips66, have been involved in a sales process in respect of the refinery for the last number of months. The Whitegate refinery is a fully privatised facility and its sale is a commercial matter between Phillips66 and a potential purchaser.

The Government views the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis as highly desirable from an energy security and economic perspective. Security of supply remains a fundamental tenet of our energy policy and our overarching strategic energy security objectives are set out in the White Paper “Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future” published last December.

Under the terms of the 2001 Sale and Purchase Agreement entered into when the State sold the refinery in 2001, a legal obligation existed on the owners to continue to operate the refinery until at least July 2016. This obligation was a minimum legal requirement and is separate from the refinery licence.

Phillips66 has provided broad general updates to my Department about the status of the sale. However all commercial matters have been confidential between Phillips66 and interested parties; Phillips66 advise that the sales process is on-going.