John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two final questions. It was reported in The Irish Timeson 17 April that CDM Smith, the lead company employed to carry out a study of fracking in Ireland, was pro-fracking and involved in the use of the controversial gas extraction method in the United States and Poland. This issue has been raised locally.

Given that a pro-fracking consultant carried out the report, did the Department consider the question of that consultant's impartiality in advance of awarding the contract? It is quite extraordinary.