Darragh O'Brien
Dublin Fingal East · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The appropriate next time to do that is once the ANCA decision is finalised and the public consultation is concluded, which will be on 3 September. Obviously, there will be a period required after that when the submissions to ANCA will be looked at. That is where the consultation is. That will happen over the coming months.”
“I have already mentioned the more than 3 million passengers who flew through Cork Airport and the growth of Shannon Airport, which has just had its best half a year and which now has over 40 routes. However, a small number of people are impacted and they need to be listened to.”
“Others did not want it at all. I think Shane Ross was Minister for transport at the time. That has been done. That is in place. This decision will be made. I do not have a timeframe. Hopefully it will be soon after the submissions from the public on the draft noise decision is made. That would feed into both.”
“An Investec report published in, I believe, 2022 said that to maintain the cap at 32 million between now and 2030 would jeopardise up to about 19,000 jobs. That is the reality of it. I support the workers in the airport. I am from the community myself. The airport has to grow in a sustainable way.”
“I have also made it clear that even though, and this is a fact, international aviation emissions are outside the scope of the climate action plan, we are taking actions aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which is based on the International Civil Aviation Organization's basket of measures to ensur…”
“I have already highlighted the planning decision on the DAA’s infrastructure application. We discussed that at some length over the course of the last nearly two hours. That application seeks to raise the passenger cap to 40 million and provide for much-needed additional infrastructure at Dublin Airport.”
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“We cannot just look at this in isolation. There is the NDP and the projects we are advancing for new roads and new national roads across the country. In Cavan-Monaghan, there is the trans-European transport network, TEN-T, road network, which is critically important in the north west. There have been unprecedented levels of investment. There will be a further increase. The Deputy's definition of "substantial" and mine might be different, but I do not have a figure yet. I do not have the draft report. When I do, it will be considered. We will do that. We will work with our local authorities across the country, which do a good job in this regard. The funding increases last year were significant. It has been good to see the local authorities being able to deploy those resources. More work needs to be done.”
“It has got additional funding for that and is one of the counties that has piloted that programme. I commend its chief executive, Robert Burns, and its director of services on the work they have done there. This will be in the next few weeks. I intend to get this out, if I can, in January. I will obviously share that with Deputies. We will get the allocations out to the local authorities so they can continue the good work they are doing. This will not all be fixed in one year.”
“Every local authority is looking for additional funding. Last year, we provided significant additional funding, which the Deputy acknowledged. We intend to provide a further increase in funding this year. I am not being evasive; I cannot give him that figure. I need time with colleagues to be able to go through the draft allocations, which I will look at. We take into account the submissions and feedback we receive from local authorities. I have met with most, though not all, local authorities in relation to the roads programme. I could not meet all of them in the short space of time that I had. Both Cavan and Monaghan do an excellent job. I know both local authorities well and the staff therein. Monaghan, in particular, has been to the forefront of using new technologies for road repair.”
“I will then go through that, taking into account working with officials, to allocate that and get it out quicker than we did last year. There was a slight delay because of the election and road allocations did not go out until around March. We intend to get them out in January of this year.”
“These three grant programmes account for most of the grant funding and are allocated based primarily on the length of the road network in a particular local authority area. Apart from a requirement that 15% of the road strengthening grant is spent on regional roads, the allocation of funding to different categories of road is entirely a matter for decision by each local authority. Having said that, in 2025, Cavan received an allocation of €19.193 million, which was an increase of nearly €1.8 million on its 2024 allocation, and Monaghan received an allocation of €18 million, which was an increase of just short of €1.8 million on the previous year's allocation. I am awaiting the draft allocations for roads. I expect to have that in the next week.”
“As regards the basis for allocating grants, within the budget available to the Department, grant funding is allocated on the basis of grant programmes and not on the basis of the category of road. The allocation of funding across specific roads, or across categories, is something we get submissions from local authorities about, which we assess. The main regional and local road grant programmes are targeted at specific policy objectives, including pavement sealing to protect the road surface from water damage, road strengthening based on pavement condition rating to lengthen the life of the roads - good work has been done in Monaghan, in particular, on that using new technologies - and a discretionary grant that allows for a range of activities, including pothole repairs, edge strengthening and renewal of signs, etc.”
“I know this matter is of great interest to the people of Cavan and Monaghan. I met with councillors from there before Christmas. At the outset, I should state that the improvement and maintenance of the regional and local road network is the statutory responsibility of the local authority, in accordance with the Roads Act. Works on these roads are funded from the council's own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each local authority. Indeed, Cavan and Monaghan do a very good job. Although they have been constrained by resources, they have got the resources every year they are required.”
“A total of 227 homes were eligible of which 204 have been completed. That is not a bad outturn. The expedited noise insulation grant increased by 50% to €30,000, which will now be available to over 1,000 homes. I continue to engage with the DAA directly on that. We will bring in mitigation measures for those who are impacted. There will be some properties close to the airport for which the voluntary purchase scheme needs to be improved. I have asked for that too. I will continue to work with the Deputy. I thank her for her constructive approach on this important matter.”
“All of us, including the Government, want the airport to continue to grow in a sustainable way. I want the false inhibitors to that growth, such as the airport cap brought in in 2007-08, to be removed. I will bring forward legislation to Cabinet very shortly. We want to get that through the Dáil as quickly as we can. That does not override concerns of residents. I grew up beside the airport and I see its benefits. People understand there will be a level of noise that people do get used to, but for those in close proximity, particularly to the western part, the opening of the new parallel runway has been a major change for them and other communities. I have asked for noise insulation to be further expanded, which it will be. As one example, we spent €23 million last year on buying homes and insulating homes and schools to date.”
“The Deputy has a very specific matter in her area, as there are communities being overflown now that were not expecting to be overflown. I have been on the public record as saying that airlines and the airport should operate under the granted planning permissions. They are subject of further retention applications now. We want the airport to develop and grow. I will be removing the cap on Dublin Airport. That is important. It must be done in a sustainable way. Communities need to be listened to. On the new report, I have not got it yet but I will make sure it goes to ANCA through the good offices of the Deputy.”
“I should say that ANCA is currently carrying out an assessment of the noise situation at Dublin Airport and the potential noise impact of planning applications that seek permission for infrastructure and increases to the permitted passenger capacity at the airport. The airport is a critical piece of national infrastructure, we know that. It underpins tens of thousands of jobs. I have always supported airport growth, but that being done in a sustainable manner. The airport has to operate a good neighbour policy and it has not always doe so. I have written to DAA on a number of occasions, including just before Christmas, asking it to further expand noise mitigation measures and looking at further insulation schemes.”
“The noise level of individual aircraft events is also available publicly from an extensive network of DAA noise monitors around the airport. Every year, ANCA carries out an assessment of the effectiveness of the noise management measures at the airport and publishes a report on its findings. This is in addition to publishing annual reports by the airport authority on the compliance by airport users with the noise management measures. If regular review or an assessment of the potential impact of development at the airport indicates that new or amended measures are required to manage aircraft noise at the airport, ANCA will facilitate a period of public consultation on draft proposals to address any noise problem or potential noise problem.”
“The second report and recently published journal article referenced by the Deputy have not been submitted to my Department. I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing them to my attention. I have asked my officials to consider the contents of the documents and communicate them to the relevant competent authority, the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority, ANCA. The Deputy will be aware the ANCA monitors the aircraft noise climate around Dublin Airport and publishes noise contours that show the geographical impact of aircraft noise on communities around the airport. These contours represent aircraft noise that is averaged over a full year for different periods of the day in a standardised European format.”
“I fully acknowledge the impact of aircraft noise. I live beside the airport myself and have lived there my whole life. I represent a community and a constituency that sees the benefits of the airport but also communities that are impacted by it. It is really important that residents' and communities' views are taken into account and that the airport operates a good neighbour policy. I have met with the Deputy and with residents' groups on that and continue to engage with them. It is my understanding that the health costs report on aircraft noise from Dublin Airport that the Deputy is referring to was prepared by PMCA Economic Consulting on behalf of the St Margaret's and The Ward residents' group, and that the report attempts to quantify the health impacts of aircraft noise and the opinions therein.”
“That is not just because I represent part of it. We can look at south Dublin as well. There are areas that have seen significant growth where we need to further improve the public transport offering. To answer the Deputy directly, will I be saying to the NTA that I want this service in place in 2026? Yes. I am saying it here on the floor of the House. My answer is consistent with what I said to the Deputy in September. I thank him for raising the matter. I know the importance of getting this route up and running. It will be very successful and heavily used, I have no doubt about it.”
“Those in the NTA are very good colleagues. We have a new chief executive in place now. They are very competent at what they do. I want this service in place 2026 and I will be saying that to them. I have said that to them. I do not control every letter that goes out from the NTA. It does a very good job and it has more resources now than it has ever had. Thankfully, because of the hard work of our people and the good economic management of the last Government and this one, we have moneys to invest and continue to invest in public transport. Our bus network is just one element of it. What needs to be understood, and is understood in the NTA, and I and the Ministers of State, Deputies Buttimer and Canney, will be reinforcing it, is that Dublin 15 and the Fingal area is a major growth area in our country.”
“Three Ministers will go through that plan, taking into account the expert view with regard to the National Transport Authority. We will then assess that plan. We made a very significant step forward with regard to increases in the PSO of about 46% in this budget. That means not being dependent on constant supplementary budgets, which was the case over the previous five years. Myself and the Ministers of State, Deputies Buttimer and Canney, want to ensure that is not the way we move forward. I reiterate that the answer is 2026.”
“My answer today is consistent with the answer I gave the Deputy in September. I plan to get the N8 up and running in 2026. We have done other things with BusConnects as well. We have started the first two quality bus corridors. Liffey Valley corridor is under construction now. I have signed the contracts. There is major investment in that scheme, about €200 million. We have signed the contracts now for Ballymun-Finglas as well and that will start construction this year. Not only are the services going in but the infrastructure is going in, coupled with and complemented by active travel schemes along those routes. I want to get the service in place in 2026. As the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, outlined in response to a previous question, we need the NTA service plan. I expect that imminently.”
“We will announce all the routes in the round. That has to be stepped through. We also need the human resources to do it. Blanchardstown and the Dublin 15 area is a major growth area. The Deputy and I represent different parts of Fingal. We will continue to improve the public transport offering there. We are seeing people's response to this in the record number of public transport journeys. The Dublin Bus figures for 2025 show a further increase. With Transdev and the Luas, we have an increase of a million journeys there alone. Overall, BusConnects will transform bus services in our cities. The N8 is a very important route and we intend to get that in later this year.”
“Orbital routes are a really important part of the new design as they offer an efficient way for passengers to travel without needing to pass through the city centre. New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered as part of BusConnects. Since 2021, we have rolled out the first seven phases of the network redesign in Dublin. This has included the northern orbital routes connecting Blanchardstown to the Point Village in 2022 and the western orbital routes connecting Blanchardstown to Tallaght in 2023. This new N8 route is really important. The Deputy raised it just before Christmas. It will connect Blanchardstown with Dublin Airport. It is still planned to have the service in place late this year, in 2026. We have just mentioned the NTA's service plan. We have to get that back. The Deputy will be aware of how this works.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. He will be aware that BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in our bus network and system that will provide much better services across our cities, covering Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway. It is the largest investment in our bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the NTA. The city programmes cover the construction of new bus corridors, new network services, bus electrification and the development of enhanced ticketing in an integrated manner to help maximise the benefits to the public, the customers. The network redesign as part of BusConnects Dublin will improve the existing bus network by providing high frequency spines and new local, orbital and radial routes.”
“We have to address that. The State can only do so much. We need further resourcing - as the Minister of State will go through in more detail - and further measures in relation to speeding, which we are doing. We have to get extremely serious about this issue over the course of this year. I look forward to working with colleagues on it.”
“I will make a suggestion. It would be helpful to all of us working on this if the transport committee looked at it. Through the UNECE working group, it will be, and is, on the agenda. I do not have any data at this stage to support claims the changes in standards have led to road accidents, though I am not saying that has not happened either. The transport committee's input would be useful. It could get lighting experts, Department officials and the RSA in to discuss this. The next question, which the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, will take, relates to road safety. We all need to work together on that. We have responsibility and are acutely aware of that. We take it really seriously. Every party and individual has an input into doing everything possible to improve road safety. Core to that in many instances is driver behaviour.”
“Last year was a terrible year for road fatalities and road injuries. All of us want to improve that. Every life lost on our roads is an absolute tragedy for families and communities across the country. We all must work together to do whatever we can to reverse that trend we have seen in the past couple of years of increasing road fatalities. Any measures, such as this one, which I am not saying is the reason for any of those fatalities, merits further investigation and work to be done in a structured way.”
“The Deputy is right but we do have a way of doing this now. As I mentioned, the UNECE Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling is going to establish that task force. That had to be done looking at European standards as opposed to British standards. As I said, I have discussed this with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and he will be putting this on the agenda for work to be done at a European level because anecdotally and from my experience, I think it is an issue. I am not a lighting specialist. I do not set the standards either as they are set at an EU level but it does merits further investigation. The question the Deputy put down is not only very timely but is very apt too and is an important one. The Deputy mentioned road safety. Road safety for us is an absolutely critical priority.”
“I understand that the UNECE Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling is going to establish a task force to investigate this issue and I can assure Deputy Ahern that I, Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and my Department will be guided by that work. On a personal level, I have experienced this as well. I do think this is a matter which needs to be looked at. It is a European competence in relation to the specifications. However, the survey clearly shows that four in five motorists have experienced this. All of us have at this stage. It does merit further investigation. That working group will be important and we will be guided by its recommendations.”
“This system establishes the technical and safety standards required for a vehicle or component of a vehicle to be placed on the European market and to place a vehicle or a vehicle component on the market and used within any member state. Type-approval requires the vehicle or component to meet specific safety requirements. Accordingly,if a headlight has been approved and entered into service, it is considered safe to use within the EU. During roadworthiness testing, the lighting system in a vehicle is tested to ensure it is in full working order and, importantly, correctly aligned for the safe performance of the vehicle. Factors which can contribute headlamp glare include misaligned aim and various other things.”
“I thank Deputy Ahern for raising this question. Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer, and I had good discussions on this with officials yesterday in preparation for questions here. This issue of the new LED lights and high intensity discharge, HID, headlights are known to provide greater brightness, improved colour rendering, increase efficiency and, in the case of LED in particular, longer performance life. That is fine and that is good. However, I am aware of the concerns and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have discussed the concern expressed in some quarters in relation to glare particularly with LED and HID headlights. The Deputy might note that the use of these headlights in the EU is regulated by the European type-approval system.”
“CPOs and procurement will be done this year and I hope to accelerate that further through NDP funding, which will be made available from 2028 onwards. I agree with Deputy Ward that it is a critical service. We are committed to doing both DART+ West and DART+ South West. They are interlinked and complement each other. There are aspects of both projects that need to be delivered, some of which in DART+ West need to be delivered first to enable DART+ South West, particularly the docklands station and clearing up the bottlenecks in Connolly Station. It is a project we are absolutely committed to and will do.”
“We are. DART+ West and DART+ South West are interlinked and are both critical. I want to use this opportunity to set the record straight on this. Deputy Shane Moynihan, a constituency colleague of Deputy Mark Ward's, has been at the forefront in ensuring this project moves forward. DART+ South West must be advanced as it will provide the depot capacity for the new fleet on the south-west line as well. It also provides capacity in the city centre to allow for the DART+ South West services to proceed. On DART+ South West, we are commencing the compulsory purchase order, CPO, processes on that project this year. Aspects of the procurement framework put in place on DART+ West will also be used for DART+ South West. I can assure the Deputy there is no delay on it. That has to be done in advance of the main construction.”
“For example, the North-South interconnector project needs to start. It needs to get going. It is the most critical part of energy infrastructure that we need on this island - on an all-Ireland basis. I intend to get that project started this year. It has to happen. Further engagement will be happening in the next couple of weeks on that. I ask politicians of various parties in some of those areas to get on board with this. This piece of infrastructure is critical to deliver the things that Deputy Ward wants and I want.”
“To complement the national development plan, NDP, which we have published and in which we have detailed the projects, we have also published the capital investment plan for our grid, known as PR 6 or price review 6. That is up to €18.9 billion of investment in our grid between now and 2030. That takes into account all the major projects we are delivering. It also takes into account the new 300,000 homes we need to deliver and the need to further expand energy generation and distribution to enable further investment in things like data. About 185,000 jobs are supported in the tech sector and we need to continue to be at the cutting edge of new technologies like AI and others and data centres are critical to that. We will be able to manage that. That grid investment is critical.”
“Let me be very clear that under the last national development plan, and in the greater Dublin area transport strategy, delivery of this project was scheduled to start after 2030. The funding I have secured under the new national development plan will bring the delivery forward into this five-year period. That is one example. It is a major project. The extension of the Luas into that area will serve 56,000 additional homes. Similarly, funding secured under the new national development plan will see construction start before 2030 on the DART+ programme, beginning with DART+ West, which is a crucial enabler for the rest of the programme and particularly DART+ South West, which has also been the subject of some commentary. I will come back with more details in my supplementary reply.”
“It is an almost 87% increase when compared to the five-year period under the previous national development plan. It is also a fact that in any funding envelope, no matter how big, decisions are required on sequencing and prioritisation. These are the decisions that come with the responsibility of being in government but we will deliver and we want to deliver these projects. There has been much commentary since the publication of the national development plan about certain projects, and I will use one or two as an example. There has been commentary that they have been allegedly delayed, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight. One project referred to in particular is the Luas to Finglas.”
“I thank Deputy Ward. I assure him there are no delays. We published the review of the national development plan and we set out very clearly what projects we are going to deliver. I will go through some of the specifics. I thank Deputy Ward for the question and I thank him for acknowledging the number of homes being built in his constituency. His constituency colleague sometimes does not recognise it but it is good that he does. Deputy Ward has asked a good and valid question. The commitment we have on public transport was evidenced by the national development plan in which we allocated €24.3 billion in Exchequer funding to transport, and this is just from this year to 2030. This means €1 in every €4 in the national development plan review is going into transport. This is an unprecedented level of investment in transport.”
“On this basis, I am genuinely satisfied that the provisions in this regard are appropriate. Therefore, as set out on Committee Stage, I do not propose to accept these amendments.”
“The amendment to section 51 would oblige the agency to provide details of the number of proposed determinations made within the prescribed period. Therefore, there should be no need to detail the number of determinations made outside that period because that will be evident. This does not preclude a request by the Minister to the agency to provide such information. That would have been very useful. Perhaps if we had got the amendment a little sooner - that is not a criticism - we could have taken action because this is something that needs to be monitored. As stated, however, the Minister is not precluded from making a request to the agency to provide the necessary information. There is also no preclusion on it being provided by means of replies to parliamentary questions.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na leasuithe seo. Labhróidh mé faoi leasuithe Uimh. 9 agus 17 le chéile. These amendments again relate to the EPA Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They propose that ministerial regulations be prescribed in the context of timeframes for decision-making and the reporting obligations of the agency. Regarding the proposed new subsection (4), provision to prescribe such regulations is already provided for in the new section 90B(2)(c) of the EPA Act and the new section 46B(2)(c) of the Waste Management Act. On the proposed new subsection (5), in its annual report, the agency already reports on the number of applications, decisions and proposed determinations made in a given year.”
“Labhróidh mé ar leasuithe Uimh. 7 agus 14. Mar a dúirt mé cheana, níl mé in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe seo. Is é an freagra céanna atá agam arís. I reiterate that I am more than happy that the new sections 88D and 44B, as drafted, are fully compliant with the directive and san Acht forbartha freisin in 2024. Therefore, as set out on Committee Stage, bhí plé fada againn faoi na leasuithe sin sa choiste. We debated this matter at some length at the select committee. I am satisfied that the provisions contained in these new sections are appropriate. I cannot accept the amendments.”
“Tá an freagra chéanna agam arís faoin na leasaithe sin, leasaithe a 6 agus a 13. Ní aontaíom leis na leasaithe sin agus nílim ábalta aontú leo mar gheall ar an freagra chéanna ar leasaithe a 4 agus a 11. They are already linked. These amendments are linked to the previous ones that we discussed, amendments Nos. 4 and 11. I refer to those new sections 88D and 44B of the Bill. It is the same answer that I gave previously. The proposed amendments would go beyond the obligations that are already set out under the EIA directive and might not meet the objectives or the purpose to which the emergency provision is required. I am more than satisfied - táim lán-sásta faoi sin - that the provisions already within the Act, and in section 88D of section 15 of this Bill and section 44B of section 26, are appropriate as they stand.”
“All applications for a licence or review of a licence or, indeed, a revised licence are currently placed on the website of the EPA for the public to make submissions within a period of 30 days to the agency. This process will continue and the provisions of the new sections 88D and 44B will not change that. I am more than content that the intent of the Deputy's amendment is dealt within the Bill itself and, indeed, referencing back, to ensure that it is reflective of the provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2024. As I set out in a bit more detail at committee, on that basis, while fully understanding the intent, I do not propose to accept those amendments.”
“Labhróidh mé ar leasaithe a 4 agus a 11. I will address both amendments together. These proposals mirror each other with regard to the EPA Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They would go beyond the obligations set out under Article 2(4) of the EIA directive and may not meet the objectives or purpose for which the emergency provision is required. I assure the Deputy that new sections 88D and 44B were drafted following detailed and considered deliberation with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that they are absolutely fully compliant with the requirements of the EIA directive and they reflect a similar-type of provision under section 227 of the Planning and Development Act 2024.”
“I assure the Deputy that where an accident or emergency is associated with the licence application, a time limit on that type of order is not required. Therefore, as I set out at the committee, and I say this respectfully, I do not propose to accept either amendment.”
“The new section 88C transposes Article 1(3) of the environmental impact assessment, EIA, directive into the 1992 Act and reflects a similar-type provision under section 228 of the Planning and Development Act 2024. Where the activity is for the sole purpose of the defence of the State - we had a good debate on this at committee - or, indeed, responding to a civil emergency, it is considered that the appropriate place for a time limit of such an order, if required, would be within the order itself to which the emergency relates rather than in the specific Act. A section 44C order made under the Waste Management Act 1996 simply removes the proposed determination stage of the licensing process and could only be applied in limited circumstances.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na leasaithe. We had good discussion on these on Committee Stage. The proposals mirror each other regarding the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They both concern the laying of orders made by the Minister under both Houses, setting timelines of six months on such orders, as the Deputy outlined. Section 7 of the Act of 1992 and the new section 44C of the Waste Management Act of 1996 already provide for the laying of such orders before each House of the Oireachtas. With regard to the proposal to place a time limit of six months on the orders, we genuinely do not believe that would be appropriate.”
“Section 23 provides for the Bill's Short Title. It allows for the collective citation and construction of the Electricity Regulation Acts 1999 to 2026 and enables the Minister to commence the Bill by order. I look forward to working with Deputies to progress the Bill, which is relatively technical. The changes it makes will make crucial improvements to the safety regulation of natural gas and LPG for operators, consumers and, importantly, the public. It will modernise our safety regime and bring currently unregulated operators into the fold of the regulatory system. I commend it to the House.”
“Section 17 extends the power of the CRU to make levy orders on energy or petroleum undertakings or holders of LPG safety licences to meet expenses arising from compensation for damage caused by GEOs in the pursuance of their duties. Sections 18 and 19 revoke regulations that will be made redundant by the passage of the Bill. Section 20 provides for the continuity of service of GEOs appointed by Gas Networks Ireland. Any existing GEOs appointed by LPG undertakings will have their appointments terminated to allow the CRU to now make these appointments. It provides for the continuity of service of GSOs appointed prior to the passage of the Bill. Section 22 provides for the continued validity of ongoing inspections and investigations by GSOs under section 9J of the principal Act.”
“Section 15 concerns the obligations of holders of the new LPG safety licence, class 2. The CRU is given the power to make regulations prescribing duties, requirements or obligations with which the holders of such licences must comply. Contravention is a penal offence. The section also introduces a duty on LPG undertakings to ensure that LPG activity and the design, construction, installation, maintenance, modification, operation and decommissioning of LPG infrastructure are carried out in a way that reduces risk to a level that is as low as possible. Section 16 removes the 21-day waiting period before the CRU may serve a safety improvement notice on petroleum undertakings in order to reflect the practice with respect to natural gas and LPG undertakings.”
“The CRU will determine the form of a safety permit, may attach conditions to a safety permit and may refuse or revoke a safety permit subject to appeals procedures. Public access to accepted safety cases associated with safety permits is provided for. A transitional provision grandfathers safety cases for natural gas activities that currently exist under the administrative regime set out in the principal Act. Section 13 introduces a duty on natural gas undertakings to ensure that natural gas activities, and the design, construction, installation, maintenance, modification, operation and decommissioning of natural gas infrastructure, are carried out in such a way as to reduce risk to a level that is as low as reasonably possible. Section 14 provides rule- and regulation-making powers for safety cases pertaining to LPG undertakings.”
“Section 12 enables the Minister to designate activities to fall under the new statutory safety permit regime for natural gas undertakings and provides for a penalty for persons carrying out designated natural gas activities without a safety permit. It also requires the CRU to prepare guidelines for the preparation of safety cases, which natural gas undertakings are required to submit to receive a safety permit. Safety cases have a maximum review period of five years, except in the case of certain activities that the CRU decides can have longer review periods, if appropriate. A duty is placed on undertakings to conform with their safety cases, and penalties for the failure to do so are provided for in the legislation.”