Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This process is completely open and transparent. It was open to anybody in this country to comment. The comments have been listened to. They have been taken on board. The study will be objective and scientific.

There is another side to this debate. It is very clear that in America, for instance, the economy has been transformed by shale gas. The benefit to each individual taxpayer or household in America is of the order of $1,500 per annum. That is what they are saving from the reduction in energy costs. That is a fact.

The environmental and health aspects must have primacy. We are committed to that on this side of the House. Let there be no doubt about that. I am happy this scientific analysis will take place, that it will be comprehensive, that it will consider all other jurisdictions and that every single citizen of this country, north, south, east or west, will have had a say. All submissions have been received and considered and we are about to go to the next stage in this process. It is a transparent, open process.

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