Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Dr. Donlon has put his finger on it. People are concerned that this work is being done in order that a checklist can be provided in respect of aspects that must be monitored and measures to be put in place to minimise any potential impact. However, they fear that what is being worked on is something that will indicate that provided certain actions are taken, fracking can safely proceed. If neither Dr. Donlon nor I can look at the companies involved in the consortium and say that there is not a single instance where one of them stated that in the case of a particular installation - again, not to mention a country - it would be wrong to allow hydraulic fracturing to proceed. When I refer to hydraulic fracturing, I mean UGEE. I have also become used to calling it fracking. There is not even one installation in respect of which any of these companies stated that the latter should not be allowed to go ahead. In global terms, this country is a small garden in the Atlantic. If we poison a bit of it, we will poison it all. It will not matter to those in the Chinese market who are buying infant formula from this country if the water in the north west is poisoned. All they will do is stop purchasing our milk products.