Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome this opportunity to discuss what I believe will be a critically important issue for the Government and country over the coming months, namely, fracking. This practise is causing fear and concern for citizens who live in areas identified as having potential for extraction of shale gas, one of which is in the Clare area and the other of which is in the Leitrim area. I will concentrate on the area with which I am familiar, which is the Clare area.

This practice is causing grave fear and concern for many people living in the Clare area. They have heard the stories from other countries of the devastation of fracking on communities, community life, groundwater and tourism potential. People in Clare - and, I am sure, throughout the country - have strong views on this issue. So strong are they that the local council has during the past two weeks commenced the process of ultimate banning of fracking in Clare and other areas.

Obviously, the democratic process has worked well at local level and it is incumbent on Members, within the confines of the Dáil, to act on the advice they have been given by local authorities such as Clare County Council. I call on the Minister of State to take on board the views and comments of those concerned, that is, the local elected representatives and those whom they seek to represent, to ensure no further licences, exploratory or otherwise, are issued; that no commercial activity is allowed to begin and that the Government moves at the earliest possible opportunity to implement a nationwide ban on the process of fracking.

While Members are the custodians of the land, in the great scheme of things they are only here for a relatively short time. It is vitally important that we not do anything to the nation and its lands that would render it completely redundant for future generations. They have a responsibility to protect the environment. The research I have undertaken indicates that the process of fracking would have a detrimental impact and effect on the areas concerned. West County Clare which is known as a beauty spot has a certain population density. It is of vital importance to protect the livelihoods of those who wish to reside in such an area. Were Members to turn it into a wasteland by allowing the process of fracking to be developed, they would be telling future generations they would be obliged to move away from the area. Ireland is a small island with a fair-sized population. It cannot afford to turn vast tracts of the countryside into wastelands.

The Government should move quickly in this regard, rather than giving the exploration companies which come here, albeit in an exploratory capacity initially, a potentially legitimate expectation. However, as the giving of a licence marks the first phase, the very fact that it is issued creates an expectation. Moreover, it is not good enough to state such companies must have an EPA licence or will be obliged to secure planning permission. Ireland should take a firm decision immediately that it is not in favour of onshore fracking. There is potential to find natural resources offshore in our seas, which is positive and on which we must follow through. However, a line should be drawn under onshore exploration through fracking at the earliest possible opportunity in order to prevent it from becoming an ongoing issue.

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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the Dáil and the Ceann Comhairle for selecting it. I agree with the Deputy that it is an important issue.

My Department has not received applications for or licensed the use of onshore hydraulic fracturing in Ireland. The earliest an application could be made is early 2013 and the earliest exploration drilling could be considered is 2014. The question for Ireland is not whether it should be declared a fracking free zone. Instead, we must be clear in our understanding of the potential implications of this technology before any project proposing its use can be authorised.

There is potential for Ireland to enjoy both economic and energy security benefits from its indigenous oil and gas resources. However, such benefits will only be realised through effective exploration. Ireland has a policy of actively encouraging investment by relevant companies in oil and gas exploration, both onshore and offshore. All such utilities are subject to a robust regulatory framework with the clear objective of ensuring such activities are carried out in a safe manner and without causing harm to the environment.

The holders of the three onshore licensing options granted last year by the former Minister of State, Conor Lenihan, have a first right, under the authorisations given by the previous Government, to apply for exploration licences in the same areas. The granting of the licensing options has commenced a process which I stress was commenced by the previous Government. In the event that it leads to applications coming before me, any such applications will be subjected to rigorous and detailed assessment. Strong regulatory processes are in place, involving An Bord Pleanála, the EPA, my Department, the Commission for Energy Regulation and others, that would apply to future projects. All these bodies, other than An Bord Pleanála, would have an involvement at both the exploration and production phases. All these processes are subject to a range of national and European Union legislation, including the environmental impact directives, and include a public consultation phase to ensure concerns of the community are heard.

I acknowledge that people have, as is right and proper, concerns that the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration and production activities could have a negative impact on the environment. Plenty of examples may be found if one considers the film "Gasland", reads the press, examines the finding of the American Environmental Protection Agency, considers what happened in France and so on. This is an important subject and the Government is concerned that if hydraulic fracturing does take place, it must only do so in the most stringent and acceptable of circumstances. The principal concerns expressed relate to the production phase of a project. The production phase in commercial production entails the use of chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. Moreover, I refer to other serious issues such as the impact on the water table, the possibility that methane gas might flow from one's tap and so on. Regardless of whether they relate to hydraulic fracturing or loose practice, these are the issues, each of which must and will be considered in this context.

Members of the House are aware that the debate on fracking is taking place worldwide. In a number of European countries exploration for unconventional gas is ahead of Ireland. Countries such as France have introduced a ban, while Poland actively encourages this form of exploration. In the United States there has been extensive exploration, as well as strong debate and considerable controversy. Members are aware that the Internet is rich with articles on the subject, many of which express contradictory views. However, a US EPA preliminary report found that compounds associated with chemicals used in the United States during the drilling of wells that had been hydraulically fractured were also found in groundwater at locations near an exploration project. The findings in this preliminary report have been challenged by the exploration company and the final outcome has yet to be decided.

The key lesson to be taken is that decisions can only be made on the basis of the best expert scientific advice available. This is the reason the EPA which is conducting preliminary background research will undertake more extensive research on the matter later this year. This research will help to inform the Government's decision. Any further applications will be the subject of a number of robust consent processes and any decision I make as Minister of State will be informed by detailed scientific assessments.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While I welcome the Minister of State's appearance in the Chamber to discuss this issue, I am disappointed he has stated it is not about declaring Ireland to be a fracking free zone, as it is. Carbon fuels are a finite resource and at some point the supply in the ground will be exhausted. The sooner this is accepted the better and the sooner this becomes obvious to exploration companies, the sooner alternatives will be suggested. It is not permissible to destroy the environment and the Earth to the point of no return only to then accept all the fuel is gone and we have to find an alternative. This will happen until such time as governments state enough is enough, which would force investment in alternative energy sources. If the government of a small island such as Ireland which, because of its greenness and tourism potential, is synonymous with respect for the environment is not prepared to do this, we have much to learn.

The Minister of State is the kind of campaigning Minister who could take the bull by the horns and turn it around. He could stand out across the world, were he prepared to take this decision. I implore him not to be driven by certain individuals within his Department who have a view that this would be good for the country from a commercial perspective. The argument is that as Ireland is going through difficult economic circumstances, it should try to exploit and explore the potential to be found in the environment in this regard. Even were we to destroy the environment, we would ultimately reach a point at which no more mineral resources were available. We must, therefore, be bold and brave and take a long-term view. I ask the Minister of State to give further consideration to this issue which I acknowledge is one that will require a whole of government approach and thought process. He certainly should not rule out the principle of making Ireland a fracking free zone.

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

While I appreciate the Deputy's comments, I repeat that when in government, Fianna Fáil granted the initial licences and that a process has commenced. Consequently, it is not realistic to tell me that it has not commenced. The Government is considering and dealing with the process.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A new Government is in place.

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

May I finish? I did not interrupt the Deputy and it is important to have complete clarity on the issue. The process has started and the companies in question will return by the end of the year with a view as to what they think they have found, after which they will proceed to the next stage when I will have to give due consideration to all the arguments made. When that stage is reached, I will be advised by the EPA. The latter is already carrying out a desktop study and is committed to carrying out a much more detailed analysis by the end of the year. The analysis in question was not carried out prior to the licences being issued by the former Minister of State, Conor Lenihan. The difficulty is that we cannot turn back the clock in respect of this issue. I assure the Deputy that any decisions I make will be based on the best advice available from the EPA and internationally.

If there is a chance that billions of euro in untapped gas could be brought to the surface and thereby provide a massive boost to the economy, then we must take account of that fact. If it became possible to create thousands of jobs in my constituency or that of the Deputy and in view of the fact that we import most of our energy, then that prospect would be worthy of serious consideration. I accept the point the Deputy made in respect of renewables and I will be happy to debate the matter further with him at any stage.