European Communities (Hydrocarbons) (Prospection, Exploration and Production) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 77 of 1998).

These Regulations give effect to European Parliament and Council Directive 94/22/EC on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospecting, exploration and production of hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas). The Minister may on grounds of national security refuse to grant an authorisation, i.e. an undertaking under section 7 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 (No. 7 of 1960), or an exploration licence, a petroleum prospecting licence, a petroleum lease or a reserved area licence, under Part II of that Act, where the applicant for an authorisation is effectively controlled by a State other than a Member State or by nationals of such a State and may determine the areas within the State to be made available for the exercise of the activities of prospecting, exploring for and producing hydrocarbons.