John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil will support the Bill. I commend Deputy Tony McLoughlin on introducing it and welcome the cross-party support for it which sends a positive message in and of itself. When many of the countries in the G8 are ploughing ahead with fracking policies, it is exemplary that Ireland is taking a stand, shining a light and showing campaigners across the world who are vehemently against hydraulic fracking that at least one country is saying no.

I welcome the withdrawal of Sinn Féin's amendment on the offshore aspect. While I share the concerns of Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Martin Kenny, keeping the Bill simple will get it done and that is what we should do. We can deal with the other issues down the road.

I also welcome the Bill from another point of view. In 2014 Kerry County Council inserted a clause into its 2015 to 2021 county development plan so as not to allow fracking. I am glad that this national legislation will back up that proposal.

As an example to the audience present, I will stick to the subject of this debate. I welcome what we are doing and pass over to my colleague, Deputy Eamon Scanlon.

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