Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the Dáil and the Ceann Comhairle for selecting it. I agree with the Deputy that it is an important issue.

My Department has not received applications for or licensed the use of onshore hydraulic fracturing in Ireland. The earliest an application could be made is early 2013 and the earliest exploration drilling could be considered is 2014. The question for Ireland is not whether it should be declared a fracking free zone. Instead, we must be clear in our understanding of the potential implications of this technology before any project proposing its use can be authorised.

There is potential for Ireland to enjoy both economic and energy security benefits from its indigenous oil and gas resources. However, such benefits will only be realised through effective exploration. Ireland has a policy of actively encouraging investment by relevant companies in oil and gas exploration, both onshore and offshore. All such utilities are subject to a robust regulatory framework with the clear objective of ensuring such activities are carried out in a safe manner and without causing harm to the environment.

The holders of the three onshore licensing options granted last year by the former Minister of State, Conor Lenihan, have a first right, under the authorisations given by the previous Government, to apply for exploration licences in the same areas. The granting of the licensing options has commenced a process which I stress was commenced by the previous Government. In the event that it leads to applications coming before me, any such applications will be subjected to rigorous and detailed assessment. Strong regulatory processes are in place, involving An Bord Pleanála, the EPA, my Department, the Commission for Energy Regulation and others, that would apply to future projects. All these bodies, other than An Bord Pleanála, would have an involvement at both the exploration and production phases. All these processes are subject to a range of national and European Union legislation, including the environmental impact directives, and include a public consultation phase to ensure concerns of the community are heard.

I acknowledge that people have, as is right and proper, concerns that the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration and production activities could have a negative impact on the environment. Plenty of examples may be found if one considers the film "Gasland", reads the press, examines the finding of the American Environmental Protection Agency, considers what happened in France and so on. This is an important subject and the Government is concerned that if hydraulic fracturing does take place, it must only do so in the most stringent and acceptable of circumstances. The principal concerns expressed relate to the production phase of a project. The production phase in commercial production entails the use of chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. Moreover, I refer to other serious issues such as the impact on the water table, the possibility that methane gas might flow from one's tap and so on. Regardless of whether they relate to hydraulic fracturing or loose practice, these are the issues, each of which must and will be considered in this context.

Members of the House are aware that the debate on fracking is taking place worldwide. In a number of European countries exploration for unconventional gas is ahead of Ireland. Countries such as France have introduced a ban, while Poland actively encourages this form of exploration. In the United States there has been extensive exploration, as well as strong debate and considerable controversy. Members are aware that the Internet is rich with articles on the subject, many of which express contradictory views. However, a US EPA preliminary report found that compounds associated with chemicals used in the United States during the drilling of wells that had been hydraulically fractured were also found in groundwater at locations near an exploration project. The findings in this preliminary report have been challenged by the exploration company and the final outcome has yet to be decided.

The key lesson to be taken is that decisions can only be made on the basis of the best expert scientific advice available. This is the reason the EPA which is conducting preliminary background research will undertake more extensive research on the matter later this year. This research will help to inform the Government's decision. Any further applications will be the subject of a number of robust consent processes and any decision I make as Minister of State will be informed by detailed scientific assessments.

See this speech in context