European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Petroleum Exploration) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 124 of 2019).

These Regulations apply Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment to activities related to petroleum exploration. Where an application is made under paragraph (1) of regulation 3, the applicant - (a) shall, having taken account of available results, where relevant, of other assessments of the effects on the environment carried out pursuant to European Union legislation (other than the Directive), provide the Minister with the information on the characteristics of the activity and its likely effect on the environment specified in Annex IIA, and (b) may also provide the Minister with a description of the features of the proposed activities and the measures, if any, envisaged to avoid or prevent what might otherwise have been significant adverse effects on the environment. Where an application is made to the Minister, the Unit shall make a determination, having taken account of the matters specified by these Regulations, as to whether the activities the subject of the application would, or would not, be likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size and location.