Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1471. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a licence issued by his Department for exploration of fossil fuels has an automatic right to renewal; and if so, if such renewal is dependent on the discretion of his decision. [38565/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 2007 provide for three categories of exploration licence, each comprising a number of distinct phases. Progression between phases or extension of the period of an existing phase is dependent upon fulfilment by the exploration licence holder of its existing phase work programme obligations; and consideration by my Department of the licence holder's proposed work programme for the next phase, and its capacity to undertake same. In that context, the Licensing Terms do not provide for the automatic renewal of an exploration licence.