Public Consultation on Draft Heads of Petroleum Exploration and Extraction (Safety) Bill 2007

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Eamonn Ryan, T.D., wishes to initiate a public consultation concerning the the draft Heads of the Petroleum Exploration and Extraction (Safety) Bill, 2007.

The draft Heads of Bill which propose to confer statutory responsibility for the safety of petroleum exploration and production on the Commission for Energy Regulation (‘CER’) will implement a key finding of safety studies carried out in relation to the Corrib Development.

The draft Heads of Bill provide that the CER will regulate petroleum exploration and extraction activities with respect to public safety and will be required to establish a safety framework for this purpose. The statutory structure to underpin this process is also set out in the Heads of Bill.

Submissions are now invited from members of the public and interested organisations by 28th April, 2008.

Submissions should be forwarded to:

Ms. Orla Ryan
Petroleum Affairs Division
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,
Leeson Lane,
Dublin 2
Email: orla.ryan@dcenr.gov.ie