Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the British Government's plans to expand fracking operations in Britain; his views on whether fracking is being promoted at a European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24805/14]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received any report on the environmental damage caused by flooding in an area in Colorado, USA where hydraulic fracturing has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24806/14]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I am most unhappy that Questions Nos. 2 and 5 have been grouped. The only commonality is that both address the issue of fracking, but if this was followed to its logical conclusions, we would have three groups of questions covering communications, energy and natural resources. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for a little leeway, given that I will be trying to cover two questions.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is entitled to extra time.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question No. 2 asks the Minister his views on the British Government's plans to expand fracking operations in Britain and on whether fracking is being promoted at European level and to make a statement on the matter. Question No. 5 specifically asks him whether he has received any report on the environmental damage caused by flooding in an area in Colorado, USA where hydraulic fracturing has been carried out and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is not this side of the House which decides how Priority Questions are grouped.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It is not the Chair either.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No, it is not and I am sorry that it happened.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I was not notified until after 5 p.m. yesterday that the questions had been grouped. I did not have an opportunity to contest it with whoever the decision maker was.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together.

The status of the unconventional exploration and extraction industry in other jurisdictions is a matter for the authorities in those jurisdictions and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the government policies of other countries. We are, of course, aware of reports on last year's floods in Colorado and the public debate and controversy which ensued about concerns raised in this regard. It is important to understand the Irish environment is different from the environments in which many unconventional gas projects and operations are taking place worldwide and this must be taken into account when making reference to and comparing with experience of such projects and operations in other countries. This is why elements of the research being commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, will relate to specific regions where petroleum licensing options or licences have been granted by the Department or the Department of Energy, Trade and Industry in Northern Ireland. Bearing this in mind, I understand the EPA research programme will also include identification and a detailed examination of potential impacts on the environment and human health, as well as potential successful mitigation measures to counteract the impacts of such projects and operations that have come to the fore worldwide, using published reports and other sources. It is expected that findings will be accompanied by a reference to experiences in other countries where this industry is active, as well as countries where it has been banned.

The European Commission has confirmed that assessment of projects proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration for and production of shale ga, is subject to a number of EU directives, including the environmental impact assessment directive and the habitats directive. The Commission has also issued guidance in this regard. In addition to this guidance, the Commission has published a number of research documents on the potential impacts of unconventional exploration and extraction of gas, including Unconventional Gas: Potential Energy Market Impacts in the European Union; Climate impact of potential shale gas production in the EU; a report on the identification of potential risks for the environment and human health arising from unconventional gas exploration; and Mitigation of climate impacts of possible future shale gas extraction in the EU, available technologies best practices and options for policy makers.

In January this year the Commission issued a communication on the exploration and production of hydrocarbons such as shale gas, using high volume hydraulic fracturing. The purpose of this communication is to ensure the consistent implementation of environmental protection measures throughout the European Union. The guidance is implementable in member states with active hydraulic fracturing industries and the Commission has indicated that if this guidance is not followed, more binding measures will be introduced.

With regard to the position in Ireland, no applications have been made to the Department to date proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling for shale gas and I reiterate that until there has been time to consider the findings of the EPA research and further research from Europe and beyond, the use of this technology will not be authorised.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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On Question No. 2 on the promotion of fracking at European level, I am sure the Minister of State is very much aware of the lobbying trying to force the issue fracking onto the agenda. We need to be very concerned about what is happening in the Six Counties. If water in County Fermanagh is poisoned, it will not stop at the Border. Poisoned water does not recognise any border. Any person involved in business needs to be able to trust the partners with whom he or she is doing business. It is important to recognise that one of the companies with an exploratory licence here speaks about having extensive data from 13 vertical wells, six of which have been successfully fracked. It does not specify whether they are in the Six Counties or the Twenty-six Counties; the statement was made in the context of the company seeking investors. This is a breach of trust, which means that we need to be very careful when dealing with such companies.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware of the document the Deputy has available and if he gives me a copy of it afterwards, I will be happy to examine the issues about which he is clearly concerned. The bottom line is that the Government will not allow fracking to take place. The EPA's report will have to be to hand before decisions can be made on it. The report is at least two years away and, when published, it will have to be debated in the Houses and be the subject matter of public comment. Regardless of what companies may state, in this jurisdiction there is total clarity on what we are doing and what will not happen. There will be no fracking in this country and we will not consider any application until such time as the scientific knowledge is available to us all and fully and properly debated in the Oireachtas. The landscape of the area where the Deputy lives is beautiful and agriculture, tourism and water in the area must and will be protected. The EU regulations are very clear in this regard.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Is the Minister of State in communication with the authorities in the Six Counties in Northern Ireland to ensure that nothing is being done that would jeopardise industry or people's health in this part of the country?

I am surprised and disappointed that the Minister of State has not received an official report on what is happening in Colorado. The Minister has travelled to observe fracking operations in the United States. He said that in one area he did not realise fracking was going on because the place looked so well. As I said at the time, the Minister needs to talk to people other than the companies involved or the official environmental protection staff. It is disappointing that a major flood in Colorado caused serious environmental damage. It took them three weeks to get in to some parts to check whether the ground water had been poisoned.

The potential impact here is serious. A groundwater survey undertaken in Ireland showed that the most vulnerable places are the very ones for which fracking licences have been sought. They are the most vulnerable areas for possible water contamination. If the Shannon gets poisoned, we will all be in trouble.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I want to reassure the Deputy that the EPA study is examining each and every issue that he has raised. It is also looking at other jurisdictions where fracking has taken place and where there have been incidents. All of that scientific knowledge will be included in the examination.

I have a report on what happened in Colorado. If the Deputy wants me to read it out, I will certainly do so. It states that there are 20,000 oil and gas wells across the county where it happened. Some 1,900 of those had to be closed off as a result of the flooding. State officials advised that as regards oil and gas infrastructure, the damage was limited. No wells failed during the flood and they responded quickly to minimise any spills or contamination from broken pipes or damaged storage tanks. They laid out floating booms to absorb and contain oil slicks.

I want to reconfirm that we have no applications proposing the use of fracking and no such applications will be considered until we have seen the outcome of the EPA's research.

As regards the place referred to by the Deputy as the Six Counties, I presume he means Northern Ireland, where his party is in a power-sharing administration. As I understand the communications between the people there and our Department, they are part of this fracking study as well. In other words, the Environmental Protection Agency study is for both North and South. The Northern Ireland administration is also involved in supporting and funding this research. I think it is very positive that we will have an all-island report to inform everybody about the facts.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Minister of State happy that there are no fracked wells in the Six Counties?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I will be happy to have the Deputy's report examined for clarity on that issue.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Could I have a copy of the report the Minister of State has from Colorado?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes, of course.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Question No. 3 was tabled by Deputy Finian McGrath. He is unable to attend the House and has conveyed his apologies. We will therefore proceed to Question No. 4 in the name of Deputy Moynihan.