Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources when he expects to receive the Environmental Protection Agency report on fracking; the reason for the delay in receiving this report; if he will reconsider his proposal not to publish a Green Paper on the subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21918/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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In October of last year, the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, requested the 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 commissioned preliminary background research into the environmental aspects of unconventional gas and into the regulatory approaches of other countries to assist the establishment of best environmental practice. This research is in the form of a desk-based study carried out by the University of Aberdeen. While managing the carrying out of the study is a matter for the EPA, I understand from the EPA that it expects to be in a position to publish the report within the next two weeks, possibly even next week.

The EPA proposes to commission further, more extensive research on hydraulic fracturing in 2012 and representatives from the Department and the EPA are developing the scope for that further study. The specification for this further more detailed research will be finalised after there has been an opportunity to consider the output from the University of Aberdeen.

The question of a Green Paper is one issue, but it would be more important at this stage to obtain the greatest possible amount of detailed scientific advice on what is happening on hydraulic fracturing right around the world, as is envisaged with the proposed second study. Until the results of that study are available and have been considered, I will not make any decision on any application proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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We all will be aware of the contentious nature of the fracturing process. Indeed, a number of local authorities have passed motions banning it within their administrative areas, and that is all well reported.

I did not hear one part of the Minister of State's reply. Will he publish the report as soon as it is available? Will it be made available to the public?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Although requested by the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, it is an EPA report. It is up to the EPA to publish it. We expect that the EPA will publish it within the next two weeks, possibly as early as next week.

The important point to bear in mind on the other side of the argument is that Tamboran Resources believes there is approximately 41 billion cubic meters of reserves in unconventional gas in that part of Ireland.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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I take comfort in the fact the Minister of State will publish the EPA report. It is probably one of the most contentious forms of drilling or extracting natural resources for the greater good. I read reports recently regarding fracking that took place in Wales, the consequences of which were mini-earthquakes. It has certainly been implied that such was the cause of it.

Will the EPA takes cognisance of the surveys carried out in France, and also the surveys that are being carried out in parts of America where, in many instances, they are revisiting areas where fracking has taken place?

There is an interesting article in "Rolling Stone", which I do not know whether the Minister of State reads.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No, but I would be happy to.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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I did not think he would.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is too old for that.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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If I can get it, I will forward it to him. It is an interesting article on the share basis and the commercial side behind it, from a speculative point of view rather than the benefit to the investors.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I repeat it is an EPA report. It is not a Department report, even though we requested the EPA to carry out the work, and it is up to the EPA to publish it. It is a desk-top study. It is really only a research document looking at what is there at present and bringing that data together.

The EPA intends to commission a further much more detailed report into all aspects of what is called unconventional gas or fracking.

It is, as Deputy Ferris stated, a seismic event anyway by its nature. It fractures. In England, around Blackpool, it caused a mini-earthquake. It was 1.1 to 2 on the Richter scale, which is very small. Nevertheless, it did happen.

The key point is that we must gather all of the science and facts available. One of the important reports that will be coming available at the end of this year is the American Environmental Protection Report into hydraulic fracturing in the United States. That will probably be the benchmark for future studies because they are looking into the issues.

If one looked at the film, "Gasland", one the key images is where a person turns on their tap and lights the water. Recently, the EPA in the United States looked into that and stated that the methane in that water supply was not caused by hydraulic fracturing. This is a fantasy. One might not like to believe it, but that is what they state.

It is terribly important, before anything happens, that all of the full facts are known. As the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, myself and the Department are saying, nothing will happen, and we will not allow anybody to commence production of hydraulic fracturing at this stage, unless and until all of the many and detailed national and international studies are looked at and all of the environmental aspects are detailed and fully examined.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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A Leas-Chathaoirleach-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry. We must make progress because there is a few more questions to deal with before closing time.