Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 9: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department plans further research on hydraulic fracturing and is currently in the process of drawing up specifications for a more comprehensive research project alongside other stakeholders; the names of these stakeholders; if they will include local community groups in the areas affected such as Clare Fracking Concerned and the Irish Farmers Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/12]

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 14: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out research into the natural gas extraction process hydraulic fracking, which included consultation with the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, on this method; his views that the university's research will be impartial in view of the fact that this university is the hub of the oil and gas industry for the North Sea and also receives generous funding from this same industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 14 together.

In October 2011, the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, requested the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. The EPA is funding preliminary background research into the environmental aspects of shale gas extraction and into the regulatory approaches of other countries with a view to helping to establish best environmental practice.

This research is in the form of a desk-based study being carried out by the University of Aberdeen. The EPA consulted with the Department before finalising the terms of reference for this study and a report in respect of the study is expected by the end of February.

The university was one of several parties approached by the EPA based on its expertise in the relevant field and was subsequently awarded the contract. Universities across the world forge links with industry relevant to their area of expertise. However, impartiality is accepted and recognised as a key element to all academic research.

The EPA proposes to commission further, more extensive research on hydraulic fracturing in 2012 with a working group involving representatives from my Department and the EPA established to develop the scope for this study. The research is expected to examine the environmental considerations relating to the use of hydraulic fracturing generally and will not be specific to any particular location or part of the country.

The final specification for this research will only be prepared after the EPA, which is an independent statutory body, has considered the output from the study under way at the University of Aberdeen.

My Department has not received applications for nor licensed the use of hydraulic fracturing in the Irish onshore at this time. Any such application that involved hydraulic fracturing would be subject to an environmental impact assessment. The assessment would include a public consultation phase of four weeks or more which would be advertised on my Department's website and in the local press. This would afford local community groups and the general public an opportunity to comment on the project and its potential environmental effects. My Department would also seek and be guided by the expert advice of other relevant statutory authorities. The outcome of the environmental impact assessment would help determine whether an exploration licence would be granted.

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State. It is vital that the research undertaken is objective and is seen to be so. The University of Aberdeen is funded substantially by the oil and gas industry and the Government should examine whether having the research done by a university whose key funders have a vested interest is appropriate, given that fracking is banned, for example, in New South Wales, Australia and Quebec and Canada. The environmental authorities in New York found that 260 different chemicals were used in the process. Does the Minister of State agree that the precautionary principle should apply, that the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government was premature in granting the initial exploratory licences and that there should be a moratorium on fracking in the State until more knowledge and information becomes available to ensure the safety of the entire process?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A.licensing option has been agreed and no fracking licence has been granted. If an application is made for the second phase, the exploration licence, the local authority will be involved as a planning application will be necessary. The Department will also seek advice from the EPA. I respect the agency's independence and professionalism and it has been consulted. The University of Aberdeen is the repository of knowledge which the agency has approached and we are happy to take the university's advice. Subsequent to this, there will be more intensive research into the impact of hydraulic fracturing. There is no question, therefore, of getting a biased or one-sided report from an academic institution. Aberdeen university and other high quality universities are objective, otherwise, by definition, they would not be universities. They have to be objective in their assessments.

If gas is extracted following hydraulic fracturing, all the European environmental directives will apply, including those relating to environmental impact assessments, mining waste licences, water frameworks, REACH and habitats. There is a strong body of directives which must apply if we proceed to that stage but the Department has received no such application.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister of State clarify whether the licensing procedure will be suspended until the research in this regard is available? Does he not think it is bizarre that young couples cannot build in County Leitrim because of the EPA standards relating to septic tanks, yet he is considering causing mini-earthquakes that could have an impact on ground-water?

Is he aware that a number of reputable scientists in the US have argued publicly that insufficient scientific data are available there, the home of hydraulic fracturing, to make a balanced decision? The journal, Scientific American, recently published a report that the disposal of the waste water deep underground in Ohio caused an earthquake, which registered 4 on the Richter scale. Even in the context of using zero chemical hydraulic fracturing in Ireland, mini-earthquakes will be caused in areas where the detail of ground-water is unknown and the impact of pumping the waste water back underground is not knows. Should this process not be suspended through a clear indication from Government until all the data are available?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister of State know the seanfhocal a dheireann, is é an bóthar mór an t-aicearra? The high road is the short cut and the short road is not necessarily the short cut. We are all aware of the difficulties that arose because of Corrib Gas. The Department is repeating the mistake by taking the narrow permission by permission approach without developing an overarching policy on fracking that would not only take into account the narrow environmental concerns but also societal and community concerns. Does the Minister of State believe using physical pads that could be removed in counties Leitrim of Clare is an acceptable development, given the nature of the beautiful countryside? Earlier, I used the Croagh Patrick analogy in the context of oil.

I agree with Deputy Nulty. I was not aware of the fracking issue or that licences had issued because not every Minister knows what every other Minister does every day. I regret that the initial licences were granted by the previous Government before we developed a policy on fracking. As soon as fracking was brought to my attention, I stated a policy was needed before further licences would be issued. I regret the issuing of the initial licences because once one goes down that route, money will be invested and then if a Minister's policy is not to proceed with fracking, the investors are left high and dry and the community concerned will have been treated in a cavalier fashion. Will the Minister develop a broad-based, joined up policy on the extraction of gas by hydraulic fracturing that would take into account not only environmental issues but also social issues affecting tourism, communities and so on? Is he willing to give an undertaking to publish such a policy before further licences are issued in this process?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I inherited the decision made in the month prior to the election by the previous Government to issue licences. Part of the recitation of the licence is that the Department will have to consider but not necessarily grant an exploration licence, which is the second phase, as part of the application. Environmental issues must be dealt with and EPA guidelines, European directives and planning issues must be brought to bear in tandem with the international knowledge the agency will gather. However, no hydraulic fracturing is taking place in the State and no application for same is before the Department. When one is made, all the relevant processes will apply, including planning and consultation. The objectivity of the EPA is respected internationally and I cannot imagine a Government disagreeing with its advice on any environmental matter. If gas can be extracted without impacting on the environment and all the other issues are addressed, we have to consider that because of our energy deficit.