Andrew Doyle TD                                                                             Wicklow/East Carlow

Oireachtas Committee: Oil and Gas Industry Report Published; Chairman Andrew Doyle recommends proposed changes to planning and tax take

The Report on Oil and Gas Exploration by the All-Party Oireachtas Natural Resources Committee was launched by Chairman Andrew Doyle, TD today in Leinster House.

This report is a significant step in the development of a better approach to managing oil and gas resources of Ireland, said Andrew Doyle. “It was prepared by members of all political parties, after listening to the stakeholders involved, to set the course for a more inclusive state management system which will ensure the maximum benefits to the nation while protecting the environment for the future. The key points were:

• The need for a transparent, simple and integrated planning system for oil and gas exploration and extraction.
• The importance of community consultation from the beginning of the process and community dividends.
• The benefits of international consultation for best practice management at all stages.

Andrew Doyle added “I am very pleased to present this All-Party Report, with specific recommendations for change in the way oil and gas exploration and extraction are managed in Ireland, for the Minister to consider in Cabinet. It is the Committee’s hope that this Report will be the foundation for a national strategy on the management of oil and gas industries in Ireland.”

Agriculture Committee hears IFA views on CAP talks

3 May 2012

The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today heard representatives of the Irish Farmers Association urge government support at the highest level for the maintenance of CAP funding.

Echoing concerns of MEPs and department officials expressed at a Committee meeting earlier in the week, IFA President John Bryan and General Secretary Pat Smith warned of the precarious nature of the current negotiations on the EU’s overall budget.

They said that as the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework would ultimately be agreed at European Council level, the Taoiseach had a critical role in forcefully presenting Ireland’s position on safeguarding CAP to key Member States, as the negotiations intensify.

Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “The Committee today heard a comprehensive address from Mr Bryan, who linked the continued levels of CAP funding to the EU’s food security as well as jobs and growth across its rural areas. The IFA leadership argued strongly for retaining the Single Farm Payment and Rural Development programmes, believing that any move towards a flat rate payment would act as a disincentive to productive farmers.

“The IFA representatives were heavily critical of the proposed greening measures, fearing they will lead to greater bureaucracy. The Committee takes on board the argument that the greening proposals don’t give due recognition that Ireland, with levels of pasture farming three times the EU average, has an outstanding record of green, clean food production.

“We are encouraged by IFA consensus building across their diverse membership involved in all agriculture sectors in Ireland, and their engagement with counterpart organisations facing similar challenges in other Member States.

“Our Committee will forward a short political report to the EU Institutions before the summer, which will incorporate today’s discussions with representatives of Ireland’s largest farmers’ organisation. Other farming organisations and stakeholders are scheduled to address the Committee in the coming weeks.”

21 March 2012
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today heard detailed briefing from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD on harnessing Ireland’s marine resources. An integrated marine plan for Ireland, Our Ocean Wealth was launched earlier this year. The public consultation phase currently underway seeks to explore the potential of Ireland’s vast marine resource.
Minister Coveney said that Ireland historically has turned his back on the sea and that the Government’s integrated approach would allow Ireland to better harness its ocean potential. He outlined that the marine industry internationally is worth about €1.2 trillion globally, and predicted significant growth in Ireland of deep sea fish farming and cruise ship visits in the coming years.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Our Committee heard an upbeat assessment from Minister Coveney on the opportunities to tap the potential of Ireland’s seas. Taking our sea area into account, Ireland is one of the EU’s largest Member States physically. Our Committee strongly supports the sustainable exploitation of our marine resources.
“The Minister explained that the Plan takes some inspiration from the integrated approach of the now booming agri-food sector, in which public and private sectors are working in a coordinated manner. Harnessing our ocean potential in a sustainable way has the potential to provide relatively ‘easy wins’ for Ireland in employment and commercial opportunities.
“With a significant representation from Members of our coastal communities on the Committee, we intend to take up the Minister’s invitation to make a contribution to the public consultation.”
The consultation phase is open until the end of this month and it is envisaged that an Integrated Marine Plan will be published during summer 2012. View website: www.ouroceanwealth.ie

Separately, but related to some strands of the Minister’s address, the Committee yesterday engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with the Roald Næss, Ambassador of Norway and Mette Agerup, Assistant Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Oil and Energy.
Committee Chairman Andrew Doyle TD commented: “Norway is held up as an example of international good practice in the area of offshore exploration. With the recent news of an oil strike off the Cork coast, such exploration has the potential to intensify in Ireland in the coming years.
“The Committee heard that, since the discovery of oil in 1965, the primary objective for the Norwegian government has been to ensure that their natural resources are administrated for the benefit of the Norwegian society as a whole. The overriding principle that the oil and gas reserves belong to the people brought the Norwegian public on board at an early stage, and consequently, no major project was delayed through local objections.
“While taking on board the view of the witnesses that the Norwegian system could not be applied in its entirety in Ireland, the simplicity and pragmatism of the Norwegian approach was illuminating for the Committee. Incorporating these lessons, the Committee intends to publish a report and recommendations on an issue critical to Ireland’s future prosperity and sustainability.”

16 March 2012

The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture will meet with the Roald Næss, Ambassador of Norway on Tuesday 20 March. Mette Agerup, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Oil and Energy, Norway will also brief the Committee.

Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Offshore exploration has been a priority issue for the Committee. The Committee has explored how best to develop our natural resources with minimum impact on local communities. We have engaged extensively with a wide range of opinion on the Corrib gas project in Co Mayo. It is quite clear that mistakes were made, particularly with regard to consultation process with the local community, which in turn delayed delivery of a key piece of national infrastructure.

“Norway is held up as an example of international good practice in the area of offshore exploration. With one of the highest standards of living in the world, it has a strong track record in harnessing offshore potential for the benefit of citizens. The meeting with the Ambassador and a high-level official in the Norwegian Ministry will grant Committee Members an insight into progressive policy making in the area.

“With the recent news of an oil strike off the Cork coast, the offshore exploration has the potential to intensify in the coming years. Incorporating the lessons from Norway, the Committee intends to publish a report and recommendations on an issue critical to Ireland’s future prosperity and sustainability.”

The meeting takes place at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday 20 March in Committee Room 1, LH 2000.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:

http://bit.ly/xMg2nJ

15 March 2012
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today received a detailed briefing from representatives of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). As the regulator for the electricity and natural gas sectors in Ireland, the CER discussed its increased responsibilities in regulating petroleum safety onshore and offshore. Addressing the Committee were CER Chair Dermot Nolan, Commissioner Garrett Blaney and Dr Paul McGann, their Director of Safety and Consumer Affairs.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “The Committee thanks the CER representatives for a detailed briefing on their increased role in petroleum safety. With today’s news of an oil strike off the Cork coast, today’s meeting heard the representatives explain that international best practice will be applied in regulating petroleum exploration, as their Petroleum Safety Framework is finalised.
As well as offshore exploration, the CER will have responsibility for ensuring the safety of a potential onshore hydraulic fracturing industry, which is a source of heightened public concern. While the CER’s role concerns safety with no statutory authority to permit or ban ‘fracking’, the issue will no doubt be a source of ongoing engagement between the Committee and the Commission in the coming years.
“The Committee are encouraged that CER intend to facilitate more renewable generation capacity, including the associated network development costs, at the least cost to the end consumer.
“Other issues raised at the meeting include CER responsibilities around consumer protection in the gas and electricity retail market, their work on regulating the key electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales and their evaluation of a smart metering roll-out to homes and business.”

14 March 2012
A delegation from the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture yesterday received an overview of Diageo’s work with Irish agriculture during a visit to the St James’ Gate facility. Diageo is one of the largest purchasers of Irish agricultural produce.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Our Committee thanks Diageo for their comprehensive tour of the facility at St James’ Gate yesterday. It was an eye-opening visit, which afforded Committee Members a first-hand insight into the operations of a company which supports over 6,000 farming families nationwide.
“The delegation met with a number of key Directors at Diageo, who provided an overview of how the sourcing of quality Irish produce was central to the company’s export strategy in the coming years. The Committee also received a detailed briefing from operations and procurement managers on the €150 million expansion planned for the St James’ Gate site.
“The investment is a significant vote of confidence by Diageo in Ireland and testament to the longstanding link between St James’ Gate and Irish farming. It further reinforces the deeply held view by the Committee that our food and drink industry has a key role to play in national recovery.”