Mr. Dara Lynott:

No fracking is going to happen until this research study is finished and fracking may or may not ever happen in regard to this. However, it is appropriate for an independent agency, such as the EPA, to do a baseline survey of groundwater quality, particularly in the north west which has complex hydrology and geology, in order to equip itself with its statutory responsibilities which may arise in the future if an application ever comes to it for fracking. It may also to be of value to the public in its own assessment and also all the regulatory agencies, legislators and policy makes as to how best to deal with fracking in the future for Ireland.