Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I never thought that I would reach the stage where my inspiration and renewed faith in the political process would come from a Fine Gael Deputy. I have to place on the record that it does. I hope to be continuously surprised. I thank Deputy McLoughlin for giving me that hope.

I listened to and participated in the earlier debate on climate change and will not repeat what I said then.

Notwithstanding the sweet words from the Minister, Deputy Naughten, I worried that Ireland was not going to comply with our obligations under climate change legislation. Deputy McLoughlin has given me new hope. I do not know how he has succeeded in getting his colleagues on board so that the Bill should move on to the next stage, but well done to him. If we are serious in complying then without a doubt they are inextricably linked. Deputy McLoughlin's Bill, which seeks to ban fracking, and our obligations and objectives which must be met under climate change legislation are inextricably linked together. I believe he accepts this. We are not meeting our objectives. Earlier today I pointed out that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has stated Ireland is not meeting its objectives, that we are going to face fines as a result and that the cost of dealing with the failure - and in cleaning up - is even more significant. If we are to meet our objectives it is quite clear that 80% of fossil fuels must remain under the ground so it makes no sense to go looking for more fossil fuels. In that context, I cannot understand how licences were given in the first place. I understand that three licences have been given. When the Minister comes back to the House to respond I would like to know the status of that. It is extraordinary how the licences could have been given in the absence of legislation, the absence of regulation and the overwhelming scientific evidence that this practice is extremely dangerous for the environment, for groundwater and for our health. I will keep my contribution short and simply thank the Deputy. I hope the Bill passes through with the speed it needs. I hope we come back here every six months - not for more general debate and not for more Sarah Palin-type of debate - regarding the progress we must make in complying with our objectives under the climate change legislation.

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