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Tynwald has been told the United Kingdom is not obliged to tell the Manx Government about any exploration for oil or gas in the Irish Sea.
However, in the case of recently awarded concessions, Chief Minister Tony Brown said his government was informed as soon as possible after drilling began.
In reply to a series of questions from Onchan MHK Peter Karran, Mr Brown (pictured) also confirmed that any oil or gas found within the area bounded by the Isle of Man's territorial sea would belong to the Island.
He also spoke of the potential for the Island to use any gas found under the Irish Sea, in addition to the supplies it already obtained by tapping into the pipe-line from Scotland to the Irish Republic:
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