Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for excluding natural gas from head 20 of the general scheme of the Circular Economy Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63139/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The exploration for and development of petroleum (which includes natural gas) is regulated by the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960. I introduced amendments to that Act through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 to give legislative effect to the Programme for Government commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of oil or gas. There is no requirement to duplicate a prohibition that is already in operation.