Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The option was built into the first licence. An application was made for a follow-on licence. That was 24 months ago. Nothing has happened. The timeframe of the EPA study will decide whether a licence or follow-on licence application will be considered. I will state categorically again that such an application will not be considered. Previous Ministers and Ministers of State have emphasised this. I am reiterating it again today. The EPA study began in August of this year. It will last a minimum of two years. It will probably take longer. I have said on the public record that I have my own concerns about the whole area of hydraulic fracturing. We have to use the political mechanisms that are in place, such as the North-South Ministerial Council. The partnership model that is in place is headed up by the EPA and involves its counterparts in Northern Ireland as well as Queen's University and the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment. We should use this opportunity to exhaust all avenues of research and opinion on the impact of this activity on the two pillars of environment and health. That needs to be done comprehensively.

Let us also build in a review option during the study instead of handing it over for a period of two or more years. In that way, the House or the joint committee would have an opportunity to make an input or give feedback.

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