Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

We should opt for a broader national policy and I absolutely agree that is the right approach. However, I simply do not have the expert evidence available to me at this stage. A little over one year ago the previous Government issued licences for exploration to three companies, but essentially they were for no more than desktop-style surveying. I await the report of the EPA which I requested. It has advised me that this is not a simple overnight matter. Its opposite number in the United States has been examining this subject for the best part of three years and its report is due this year. This is also a major issue in the United States and it has had a dramatic impact on the price of gas which has fallen dramatically. However, it has not been without allegations in some states.

I have met groups here which are concerned about the issue and taken on board what they said. I commissioned the EPA to carry out a study as a result and I am making further money available to it, but we cannot design the project until I receive the findings of the University of Aberdeen study. In the interim, I know there are public meetings taking place in various places and that people concerned about this issue have been to Leinster House to make presentations; at least one of the companies involved has been heard here. All of this adds to the debate, but we are a long way from being able to a have an evidence-based national policy on fracking.

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