Mr. Ciarán Ó hÓbáin:

As outlined, the authorisations granted are licensing options and provide a first right to apply. No application has been made to date to drill an exploration well using hydraulic fracturing. As we have outlined, the EPA is currently scoping further research, which is important for the regulators and any company considering applying for an exploration licence. They will have to carry out their own environmental assessment but they would have to build into that the findings of the EPA research. As has been stated, the Minister has confirmed that no decisions will be made to allow hydraulic fracturing until the results of the further EPA research have been considered.