Marine & Natural Rescources Minister Noel Dempsey has told RTÉ News it will be 'several weeks' before the final safety reports on the Corrib gas pipeline will be made public.
Mr Dempsey said getting gas from the Corrib field onshore was vitally important, but he warned there would be no shortcuts on safety issues.
He said the reports would set out exactly the conditions under which Shell would be allowed to pipe the gas ashore.
A first draft of the report recommended that the planned gas pressure be reduced significantly.
