|
Natural Resources Minister Eamon Ryan has presented the Petroleum
(Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 to the Oireachtas.
The Bill confers responsibility on the Commission for Energy
Regulation (CER) for the regulatory function for the safety
of oil and gas infrastructure in Ireland. It also sets the
framework for the development and implementation of a risk-based
safety assessment for upstream petroleum activities and associated
infrastructure.
The legislation provides for the establishment of a Safety
Framework which will cover the construction, operation, maintenance,
modification and decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure.
Minister Ryan said that he was pleased to bring legislation
on this important issue before the Oireachtas. Oil and gas
extraction and production should be aligned with the national
interest. There are a number of ongoing projects, including
the Corrib gas pipeline and the Shannon LNG project. These
are demonstrably in the national interest.
“First and foremost” - the Minister said - “we have to deliver
these projects safely. The Government’s primary responsibility
is to the safety of our citizens. This Bill confers the responsibility
for that safety onto the right body and tasks it with setting
up the right regulatory framework in law.”
The Bill is available on the Oireachtas website - Click
Here
|
