James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current status of licensing new exploration of offshore gas in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55418/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A revised Policy Statement on Petroleum Exploration and Production in Ireland was published in August 2022 and can be accessed at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/3bcaf-policy-statement-on-petroleum-exploration-and-production-in-ireland/. It replaced the 2019 “Policy Statement - Petroleum Exploration and Production Activities as part of Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Economy”, in order to reflect the current policy and legislative position of the Government on Petroleum Exploration and Production, and to provide clarity to stakeholders in relation to future authorisations which may be granted under legislation.This Policy Statement outlines the commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the decision taken in 2019 by the previous Government in relation to oil exploration and extraction.

Holders of existing authorisations can continue to apply to progress through the standard licensing lifecycle stages towards a natural conclusion, which may include expiry, relinquishment, or production. While no new authorisations for new exploration will be granted, existing authorisations will not be affected by this change.

Any applications for follow-on authorisations or applications to undertake offshore activities under an authorisation are subject to Ministerial consent and must continue to meet environmental, technical, and financial criteria as appropriate.