199 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 4 November 2010 and No. 82 of 8 December 2010, he will provide references for the best international engineering gas leakage detection practice he refers to; the details and specifications the developer has proposed for systems which would detect a leak; if he will outline any peer-reviewed studies proving the detection success rate in varying environmental conditions of such systems proposed by the developer; if those studies were independent studies; his level of confidence in the veracity of their findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4546/11]

In order to clarify the matter for the Deputy, as outlined in responses to Question No. 228 of 4 November 2010 and Question No. 82 of 8 December 2010, it is the overall design and construction of the Corrib Gas terminal that is based on best international engineering practice for gas processing terminals. Notwithstanding the fact that the terminal is designed to ensure against a leak of gas, the developer has proposed that detection systems are installed. The proposed systems are standard and involve proven fire and gas detection systems.