Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. McLoughlin for a very comprehensive presentation and for highlighting this issue over the past 18 months in the affected areas. Has the group been at all encouraged by what it heard this morning from the regulatory agencies, including the Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA? The impression given is that nothing will happen in the short or medium term, with the Tamboran company now caught in the horns of a dilemma. It has been made clear that if it does not apply for a licence in February, the process will fall. The correspondence from the company to this committee has indicated that nothing will be done until all the EPA and technological reports are concluded. In that context, are the witnesses encouraged that an attempt is being made, particularly by the Department and to a lesser extent by the EPA, to tread cautiously? How would the witnesses respond to what they have heard?

Are the witnesses indicating they will not accept hydraulic fracturing under any circumstances with regard to current technology? Is it seen as being absolutely damaging to the environment, as it was made quite clear in the presentation's conclusion that high-volume fracking should be prohibited? Has the research provided any indication from across the world that there will be improvements in technology or we could arrive at a position where shale gas could be extracted without the use of horrendous infrastructure? It appears to be like a lunar landscape.

In the Irish context, are the witnesses encouraged by the fact it is perfectly clear that the geology of Ireland is totally different to that of the other relevant countries? That may be encouraging, as there is a high volume of water, including lakes and rivers, in the area where drilling is proposed; the chances are that the Government may decide it is not worth the candle.