Dempsey meets Shell/Rio tinto involvement?

Statement from Minister Dempsey

Dublin 10 August 2005

The Minister for Communications Marine & Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey T.D., met today with representatives of Shell and discussed the following items:

• Finalised discussions in relation to the breach of Phase 3 Preparatory works and the Phase 4 Consent
  
• Presentation made by Shell in relation to background of the project and putting the project in its wider gas market context
  
• Safety Review: To request Shell to co-operate fully with consultants and make all necessary documents available to the consultants. The company agreed unreservedly to do so

ENDS

Minister Dempsey Announces Composition and Role of Technical Advisory Group for Corrib Development
Dublin 10 August 2005

The Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey T.D., today announced the composition of the new Technical Advisory Group (TAG). This group has been established for two reasons - To manage the independent Safety Review and to manage the inspection and supervisory regime of the Development.
The TAG is comprised of the following members:

• Mr Bob Hanna, Chief Technical Advisor & Energy Installations Inspector, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
  
• Mr Koen Verbruggen, Senior Geologist, Geological Survey of Ireland.
  
• Mr Richard McKeever, Assistant Chief Engineer, Engineering Division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

In addition the TAG has legal advice available to it. It will be free to obtain general or specialist technical advice to support its activities.
With regard to the Safety Review, the TAG will select the successful tender, manage the contract with the selected consultants, review the conclusions and recommendations of the consultants and make a submission to the Minister.
The TAG will also oversee a programme of inspection, with both regular and ‘on the spot’ checks by Authorised Officers and verify compliance with both the Plan of Development and the various Ministerial consents under which permission to carry out work are given.
These Authorised Officers will be empowered by the Minister to enter into and inspect, any work by the Corrib developers. Authorised Officers will either be appropriately qualified members of the Department or other suitably qualified persons, where the relevant expertise is not available within the Department.
“This new Technical Advisory Group addresses the twin concerns expressed to me by local people – that of the safety of the pipeline and the monitoring and inspection regime. The independent Safety Review will examine all aspects of the safety of the pipeline and if it determines that safety conditions need to be improved then these recommendations will be fully taken into account in future consents” said Minister Dempsey.
“The inspection regime of the Department has been strengthened. It is now concentrating on a mix of physical inspection visits by Authorised Officers, coupled with regular meetings with Corrib Developers and the publication on the Department’s website of works progress information in relation to the project. These measures will ensure that relevant information is available in a timely manner,” he concluded.
ENDS

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Dempsey Welcomes Donation of Rio Tinto’s Irish Geological Archive to the Geological Survey of Ireland Dublin, 3rd August 2005 The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, T.D., today welcomed the donation by Rio Tinto of their extensive Irish geological archive to the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI).Rio Tinto is one of the world’s major mining companies with its headquarters’ in the United Kingdom. Rio Tinto carried out exploration activities in Ireland from the early 1960s until the mid 1990s. During that time they amassed a huge archive of geological information including data from the Keel lead – zinc deposit in Longford and the Kilmacoo gold deposit in Wicklow.The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) is the national geoscience agency. It is the repository for all geological data for the country and contains the most complete inventory of information on Irish geology and mineral deposits.“The archive that is being donated represents the collected efforts of many geologists over 35 years and it is fair to say is a treasure trove that will add enormously to the national databank. I have no doubt hat the information contained in the archive will yield many insights and new interpretations in the years to come on Irish geology. I want to thank Rio Tinto for their generosity and applaud their public spirit in making this very kind offer to Ireland. I also want to assure the entire geological community and the public in general that the data once catalogued and archived properly will be made available to all,” said Minister Dempsey. For further information please contact:Gerry Stanley, Mineral Programme, Geological Survey of IrelandTel: 01 678 2863. Fax: 01 678 2578. gerry.stanley@gsi.ieEnds