Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I think the Department is extraordinarily sensitive in respect of this debate and that we have proceeded with great caution. The Government which preceded this one approved some very basic desk top studies, and no more than that. There has not been any fracking. We are engaged in examination and the environmental impact assessment which accompanies this measures the social impact as well as the environmental fall-out and so on. I would have confidence in the agencies of the State and in their independence and integrity in terms of assessing this.

A debate is going on in Europe whether the Deputy likes it or not. There are member states in which Ministers will argue that shale gas is a big advance in terms of meeting their climate targets and so on rather than reliance on dirty coal. If one talks to the Polish Minister, he will have a different view from that which I expressed. One can go through the member states and different member states have different views on it. I do not think the Deputy is advising me to step aside from the debate.