Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a strange situation because there is consensus. In the Second Stage debate, we reached an important decision so it is strange that we are stepping back a bit.

However, it is not a permanent step back. In fact, we have respect for this process and for the submissions that various people with an interest in this matter have been asked to present and the work they have done on them.

Two or three issues arise. Dr. Crowe referred to climate change. For me, that is the quintessential first obstacle for any development of fracking. We need to keep four fifths of fossil fuel resources underground. If we burn the shale or tight oil and shale resources, we will have runaway climate change that we will not be able to stop. There are also secondary issues around methane release, which I believe is an acute problem in the shale fracking industry. The analysis we have been presented confirms to me, specifically for the sites in Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon, that the issue of water pollution is very significant. There are many other concerns that could be raised. From all the analysis I have read here, this is a geological formation in which there are natural risks, as there are already breaks in the fracturing in the natural sediments of the area. There are real risks. The concerns in the hydrological analysis presented by SWAN are being backed up. In that geological area, there is a risk of contamination of the most critical water resource we have, namely, the mouth of the Shannon. It seems to me to be a non-starter. It gives us a certain comfort in following the process of restricting the application of fracking in Ireland. In my mind, it makes ever more sense.

I would be interested to hear from Mr. Collins from the Department on one final matter. In our earlier considerations today, the other reassuring development - if I am not breaking confidence - is the sense that the Bill, as presented, is fundamentally legally sound, although there may be a need for a tweaking of words. I think it may be appropriate for the Department, with its drafting expertise, to provide wording suggestions for the definition of "land", "the State" and other examples mentioned earlier. The reassurance for those campaigning on this side is that we have a process whereby, as we agreed under Standing Order 141, we are carrying out the pre-legislative process, which is not going to be long and drawn out. This legislation is heading towards Committee Stage, for which the select committee will be responsible. Subject to the Dáil agreeing Report Stage and the Bill's enactment, it will go to the Seanad. I would be interested to hear from Mr. Collins, as he has a similar assessment, whether there is anything in the legislative process that, in the Department's view, screams "Stop". If there is, I am not aware of it. That is the good news from my perspective. We have a fairly clear path to bring this legislation to Committee Stage and to enactment.