Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As my colleagues indicated, the Fianna Fáil Party supports this Private Members' Bill, the Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016, which proposes to prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracturing or fracking. I thank Deputy McLoughlin for bringing the Bill before the Dáil.

Fracking is controversial for many reasons. The practice can be unsafe and not properly regulated. It is also a dirty process that produces a dirty energy. Numerous countries are moving away from fracking and we should learn from them. We should not be willing to subject our communities to any potential risk which could undermine the integrity of the water supply or the natural environment in which we live.

Various reports have been published which indicate that the pumping technique and the fate of the fluids used in the process of drilling 1.5 km into the ground pose potentially significant risks to the natural environment. The risks fracking poses to drinking water are simply not acceptable. Our high quality food industry is very important and the risk that serious damage could be done to our reputation as a quality food producing nation is not worth taking.

While I understand exploration has taken place, no commercial licences for fracking have been issued in the Republic of Ireland and the Government is awaiting the outcome of an EPA study, expected later this year, before deciding on a definitive policy. As my colleagues outlined, Fianna Fáil has concerns about the independence of the two-year study into fracking because of the involvement of the consultancy firm, CDM Smith, which has advised on exploration of gas extraction in the United States and Europe. The company is working in conjunction with a number of institutions, including University College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast and the British Geological Survey, to compile a series of reports into fracking to be published next year.

It is of particular concern that while the Bill would ban fracking in the Republic, the fracking process could be used across the Border and this could interfere with water courses here. This issue needs to be addressed.

Opposition to fracking has been standing policy of the Fianna Fáil Party, as outlined in our energy policy paper published in April 2015. I am keen to support communities in their demand to ban fracking activity in Ireland.

Mar fhocal scoir, táim buíoch as an deis labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Tá sé léirithe inár bpolasaí fuinnimh, a d'fhoilsíodh i mí Aibreáin 2015, go bhfuil Fianna Fáil go láidir in aghaidh an fracking agus beimid ag tacú leis an mBille seo, mar a luaigh mo chomhghleacaithe anseo. Is ábhar mór buartha é do phobal timpeall na tíre go mbeadh aon bhaol ann don timpeallacht nó dá sholathar uisce ón tslí go ndéantar an fracking seo. Ní chóir dúinn aon phobal a chur i mbaol. Braithim gur maith an rud é an cosc seo a bhrú ar aghaidh agus tacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille.

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