Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consult the group, Concerned Health Professionals of Ireland, regarding the human health effects of the process of hydraulic fracturing. [21508/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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I note the comment of the Minister of State in response to an earlier question from Deputy Catherine Murphy that he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of a report into hydraulic fracturing or fracking. It is not necessary to await the report because a large amount of information is available that allows a conclusive judgment to be made on the matter, namely, that we should not proceed any further with hydraulic fracturing on this island. Against an international backdrop of growing health concerns related to fracking and given the absence of any consultative forum, will the Minister of State consult concerned health professionals and others to examine this issue?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her question. As she will be aware, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has commissioned a research programme into the potential impacts of unconventional gas exploration and extraction on the environment and human health. It should be noted that the draft terms of reference for this programme were the subject of a public consultation process which resulted in an amended and strengthened scope for the programme, including a key recommendation that the potential impacts from unconventional gas exploration and extraction on human health be considered as part of the project.

In this regard, the tender documents refer specifically to potential health impacts deriving from impacts on environment parameters, including exposure to chemicals, vibration, light and noise as well as the potential pollution of environmental parameters such as soils, air and water. The experience in other countries in this regard will be considered as well with a view to making recommendations towards developing a protocol in an island-of-Ireland context.

However, I emphasise that any requirement for a health impact assessment into unconventional gas exploration and extraction would only arise if an application to carry out a development proposing the use of this technology were being considered. As I have advised Deputy Murphy previously, no application to engage in unconventional gas exploration has been received in my Department, nor would any such application, if submitted, be considered until the research programme has concluded and there has been time to consider its findings. It is anticipated that a synthesis report concluding on the findings of the research programme to date will be published by the end of this year. Any policy decision will be taken in the context of the objective of achieving a low-carbon energy system by 2050.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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There is a major problem with all of this. The former Deputy, Mr. Colreavy, accurately warned the Oireachtas committee last year that fracking was essentially taking on a momentum of its own against the backdrop whereby we still do not fully understand the extraordinary health impacts. That is frightening, especially given that in Antrim, the oil extraction company InfraStrata recently began test drilling on land owned by Northern Ireland Water without planning or environmental assessment and without any consultation. The sad thing is that occurrence has now set the precedent for these matters on this island.

I put it to the Minister of State that the Environmental Protection Agency does not have access to the medical experts who need to evaluate this matter. It is a fact now that in 80% of the peer-reviewed studies conducted since 2013 - a total of 226 were undertaken in 2015 - the results were of concern. In all of the areas where the studies have been done serious hazards have been identified. We really should call it a day at this stage before we get into even more serious trouble.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A key question to be answered by the joint research programme is whether unconventional gas exploration and extraction can be carried out on the island of Ireland while protecting the environment and human health. Project C of the programme covers the regulatory framework for environmental protection. It will include discussion on approaches of other countries with regard to health impact assessments and will also include recommendations for a protocol for Ireland with regard to health impact assessments. Project B relates to impacts and mitigation measures. This project will address water and other potential impact and mitigation measures. It will examine the impact from unconventional gas exploration projects on human beings.

Deputy Daly asked whether there would be consultation. I have met any group that has sought to meet me since I became a Minister of State. I do not recall receiving a letter from the medical expert group. If Deputy Daly wishes to arrange such a meeting, I will be happy to listen. It only costs time and I have no problem doing it. The evidence will be taken into account. The international evidence taken into account in the synthesis report will be published before the end of the year.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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The scary thing is that the evidence is already available for us to be able to say that we really should not go any further. It is not unfair to say that the EPA study was probably compromised from the start. There is no great degree of public confidence in it given the involvement of an oil and gas provider in drawing up the terms of reference and given that some of the contractors are involved in projects which promote fracking. We have to be honest and say there is no political support for this whatsoever. At the same time, substantial bodies of scientific literature indicate serious and elevated hazards to human health.

For all of these reasons there is a need to be vigilant. Yet, we seem to be saying that there is no need to worry, that there is nothing to see and that we can be reassured and everything will be grand. Everything is not grand because we are moving nearer to the destination of this very unpopular health-hazardous practice being developed on this island. Nothing can assuage people of those concerns.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As I said to Deputy Murphy, when the Dáil comes back in September the publication of the report will be imminent. I know that concern has been expressed. However, the consortium that has undertaken the work includes CDM Smith, the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster of University, Amec Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors.

The terms of reference went out on public consultation and there was change following that public consultation. The contract award process chosen for the competition was an open procedure process. A total of six tenders were received and the contract was awarded following robust evaluation. There was an evaluation panel consisting of 27 existing and retired personnel from various respected bodies, including An Bord Pleanála, the Commission for Energy Regulation, our Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health Service Executive and the Geological Survey of Ireland. There has been a wide range of expertise available and public consultation. The synthesis report will collate all the information. As I said to Deputy Murphy, this has been fast-tracked. Instead of waiting until the end of 2018 there will be a synthesis report, an interim report, published by the end of this year and that will yield many answers I am sure.