Dáil debates

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

1:00 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I will answer the last question first. In Britain, a House of Commons committee has recommended that hydraulic fracturing can take place and will not damage the environment.

Any decision made by Clare County Council is a matter for them. If they wish to change their development plan, that is their prerogative. However, if they are going to change it, the plan must go on public display and there will be due process in which my Department will engage. Clearly, there is a democratic process in that regard.

We are talking about three phases: licensing, exploration and production. The full-scale production phase covers the significant issues raised by the Deputy, including how the volume of activity on the ground affects society and impacts on the community. The key matter of importance is protecting the environment.

The EU guidance on regulations is very clear. The following directives apply to fracking: Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; Mining Waste Directive; Water Framework Directive; Reach Directive, which covers the safe use of chemicals; Biocidal Products Directive; Seveso Directive; Habitats Directive; and the Environmental Liability Directive. Therefore, significant environmental safeguards are already built in to any such applications. I am confident that due and proper process through An Bord Pleanála, will be clear and will be taken on board. It is a democratic process and anybody can express their views. Ultimately, however, if it can exploit gas or oil onshore, it will create a lot more jobs than it would offshore, provided that the environment is protected. Clearly, in the context of all the directives I cited, the EPA will have to apply a full and rigorous examination of all the issues.

Comments

Micheal Geoghegan
Posted on 24 Jan 2012 1:25 am (Report this comment)

In Britain, Fracking has been responsible for earthquakes in the Lancashire area. Looks like the House of Commons report was wrong, doesn't it? Sligo County Council has also voted to ban hydraulic fracturing while Leitrim County Council has written to the Minister requesting an outright ban. Of course, it appears that the wishes of the councils and indeed of the people will be ignored if a suspicious EPA reports findings are favourable. Naturally, the findings ought to be favourable since the institution advising the EPA is funded by oil and gas giant Halliburton.

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