Dáil debates

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

1:00 pm

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

The EPA has commissioned preliminary background research into all aspects of shale gas production in the form of a desktop study being carried out by the University of Aberdeen. In addition, the EPA will be commissioning more extensive research on hydraulic fracturing in 2012. A working group involving representatives from my Department and the EPA is currently developing specifications for this study.

Comments

Micheal Geoghegan
Posted on 24 Jan 2012 1:12 am (This comment has been reported to moderators)

According to Mr O'Dowd, the EPA is relying on "a desktop study being carried out by the University of Aberdeen"? Yes that makes perfect sense. When looking for an unbiased assessment of a practice that is considered by so many impartial experts to be detrimental to the environment and human health, where better to seek advice than at a university funded by oil and gas giant Halliburton, which also happens to be the pioneer of the very practice in question. As a matter of fact, it was a former CEO of Halliburton, Dick Cheny, who introduced legislation that exempted fracking from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act and allowed industry to pillage rural America. So the question is, how can Mr O'Dowd place any trust in the University of Aberdeen while it nestles snuggly in Halliburton's pocket? Something stinks here and it's a familiar stench!

Micheal Geoghegan
Posted on 24 Jan 2012 1:12 am (Report this comment)

According to Mr O'Dowd, the EPA is relying on "a desktop study being carried out by the University of Aberdeen"? Yes that makes perfect sense. When looking for an unbiased assessment of a practice that is considered by so many impartial experts to be detrimental to the environment and human health, where better to seek advice than at a university funded by oil and gas giant Halliburton, which also happens to be the pioneer of the very practice in question. As a matter of fact, it was a former CEO of Halliburton, Dick Cheny, who introduced legislation that exempted fracking from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act and allowed industry to pillage rural America. So the question is, how can Mr O'Dowd place any trust in the University of Aberdeen while it nestles snuggly in Halliburton's pocket? Something stinks here and it's a familiar stench!

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