Vol. 542 No. 3
77 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has commissioned, or plans to commission, a study of the future global avail ability of oil and gas and its implications for Irish energy and economic policy. [24221/01]
Oil and gas production and distribution are globalised industries and developments in these industries are monitored by the International Energy Agency – IEA, an autonomous body established in 1974 within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – OECD – to implement an international energy programme.
Ireland is an IEA member state and participates fully in the IEA's programmes, deliberations and conclusions, including those relating to projected long-term developments in the energy sector. In addition, the European Commission published towards the end of last year a Green Paper entitled, Towards a European Strategy for the Security of Energy Supply, with a view to stimulating debate on the principal issues which can be identified relating to security of energy supply in the European Union. The European Council gave preliminary consideration to the Green Paper in May 2001 and instructed the Commission to continue the consultation process. The Green Paper will be considered again at the December meeting of the Council. In the circumstances, I have no plans to duplicate the work of the IEA and the EU by commissioning the kind of study mentioned by the Deputy.
