Possible oil agreement with Norway
O’Leary asked about a possible oil agreement with Norway, and Kelly raised Aran Energy’s possible role. O’Malley said preliminary contacts concerning an Irish company’s interest in Norwegian offshore exploration suggested scope for cooperation, but no detailed proposals or deal existed; fish and fishing boats had been discussed, not BIM boatyards.
Will Aran Energy play any role in the Norwegian deal or will Aran Energy be subsumed in it? This is hopeless. We are trying to get serious answers.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the details of any possible oil agreement with Norway for the Supply of oil.
Comment on this
Contacts which have taken place with Norwegian authorities concerning an application by an Irish company for an interest in a petroleum exploration licence offshore Norway have indicated that there appears to be scope for co-operation which could be of interest to Norway and, from the point of view of access to oil supplies, to Ireland. These contacts can best be described as being of a preliminary nature. No discussion of detailed proposals has taken place and it is, therefore, too early to suggest what specific projects or arrangements might emerge.
Comment on this
In the first place no deal was made so the presence or absence of any commodity does not arise.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that one of his colleagues, probably in an off-the-cuff interview, referred to a possible deal between fish and oil in the context of Norway.
Comment on this
I am not aware that one of my colleagues made that reference but in the course of our discussions with the Norwegian authorities the question of fish was discussed.