Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy McLoughlin on bringing this Bill forward. Today is one on which ordinary people and politics are at one for the simple reason that, over recent days, politicians on all sides of the House, other than those who wanted to drive forward with amendments, stood up and were counted. They stood with Deputy McLoughlin to ensure his Bill would be passed unanimously in the House. Anybody who has seen what has gone on in America will note the destruction resulting from hydraulic fracturing.

Let me refer to Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon, the lakelands district. The River Shannon takes 20% of the water of the landmass of Ireland. There may be so much money available from fracking but one should consider the devastation of tourism, farming and of people living in the areas affected. It could not even be contemplated. Why are we even carrying out an EPA study at present? Why are we putting money into this if today we are to finish off hydraulic fracturing once and for all?

I welcome what Deputy Martin Kenny said. I urge that a Bill such as this be brought forward in the North, where there is power-sharing, to ensure we bury hydraulic fracturing for good throughout the Thirty-two Counties. If what Deputy McLoughlin has done today were done in the North by Sinn Féin's counterparts in power there, it would be very helpful.

People talk about how many would be employed. Generally, outside vultures come in to do all the work and the locals never get the jobs where the hydraulic fracturing takes place.

I commend Deputy McLoughlin. This is a good day for politics in the House in that everyone is united in sending this Bill forward. We need to ensure there is no hiccup from now on and that there will be no effort to push in something else later. This Bill must be driven on to ensure, once and for all, that everybody will know where he or she stands. Over the weekend, every Deputy got plenty of e-mails on hydraulic fracturing. Those who mounted the campaign in all parts of the country need to be commended. This is a day on which ordinary people stood up and were counted.

See this speech in context