Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Acting Chairman is correct to note I am a former Senator. As I recall a debate in this Chamber on whether a person was a former distinguished Member or a distinguished former Member, this is a place in which to have a debate to discuss matters.

I acknowledge the contributions of Members this evening and it certainly was not simply a case of making contributions and asking questions.

A few of the Members have made suggestions which I will take on board, and I wish to note that at the outset.

Senator Daly focused his contribution on the very real concerns people have in respect of fracking. It is important that I am prescriptive in stating Government policy on this issue. There is no fracking and, as far as I am concerned, there will be no fracking while an Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, survey is ongoing. The EPA survey is linking in with Government agencies and Irish universities and also those of Northern Ireland, so there will be a heavy reliance on expertise, information and education on North-South, intergovernmental and educational bases.

This is important because the survey will last at least two years. I have spoken at length to my officials about this. I do not want a situation to develop whereby there is a vacuum for a period of two years in a survey which started in August of this year. I wish to build into this research and to have the conversation continue on an internal political level. Through this House and the Dáil, I hope we can, at some stage or at various stages, have an input into the study and find out what its current position is and the direction in which it is going. Senator Whelan asked what the current position is. We need to ensure the input of this House because there are very real concerns at a community level. I have met with many groups, including groups in counties Leitrim and Sligo. The Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy White, and I met with a delegation from Cavan and Leitrim county councils. We take their concerns very seriously, and the two pillars of the research focus on environmental and human health issues.

I agree with Senator Whelan that this is a small country. This is not Russia or the wild plains of Dakota. We have to take archaeology, geology, heritage, flora, and fauna - every single element - into account in this study to ensure a proper investigation is carried out. We need to ensure the proper advice is given to people who will make the necessary decision when it arrives on their desk. It will not be my decision. It is a decision that is at least two years down the line. However, it is important that we have a mechanism to feed into that conversation.

Senator Daly is correct in saying that there has to be a connect between community and business. I am open to suggestions he has on this. Senator Conway, who comes from County Clare, made reference to the correlation between history and geography. As a geography student, I spent time in County Clare exploring its flora and fauna and all other aspects of the geological bounty at the disposal of the local people, in particular the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. We will do whatever we can to share the Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI, research, to promote the linkage between university, government and community and to share the economic and tourism benefits that might follow.

Senator Conway made the point about making information understandable. This is key and critical, as sometimes we get bogged down in jargon. Before taking office in my Department, I had the possibly stereotypical predisposition towards geology that it cannot be made exciting. I wondered how we could excite and engage primary and second-level students in it. We do it by bringing the information to them in an understandable way. I acknowledge the work of Glenveagh National Park in this regard. No doubt there will be other projects, for instance in Kerry where Senator Ned O'Sullivan is from, where our national parks, rich heritage, archaeology and landscape is shared with schools through school trips. Students will be brought to the areas to learn in an interactive way.

Senator Conway also mentioned preventive measures when referring to flooding issues in County Clare over the last few years. The engagement between the OPW, local authorities and different agencies in trying to prevent future flooding is key and my Department is central to this.

Labhair an Seandóir Ó Clochartaigh faoin leabhar geo-eolaíochta agus an ceangailt agus an nasc idir an stair agus an tíreolaíocht. He made the point about regarding Ireland in its proper context. Ireland is the fourth largest country in Europe. We should make a concerted effort to get that information and message out there. In terms of our sea basin, we are fourth in size after France, Spain and Portugal. It is an immense resource. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is involved in a big partnership in terms of our ocean's wealth and my Department is feeding into that.

I acknowledge the INFOMAR project again and its research. Senator Terry Brennan has been out off County Louth. It is invaluable work, as the resources are there. It is not just oil and gas. There is a momentum at the moment in terms of companies looking at potential exploration drilling. However, we have to look at the magnitude of the basin in perspective. Saying we are the fourth largest country in Europe puts it into perspective.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh also raised the possibility of linkages between na hollsoileanna i Mheiriceá agus na ceantair Gaeltachta i gConamara. If there are potential linkages which the Senator feels we as a Department can explore, we will sit down with him and look at those possibilities.

In terms of geothermal and geoscience technologies, we are all on the same page when looking at potential alternative sources of energy and not just relying on a few different sources. There has been a lot of research into tidal and geothermal energies. If my Department officials can add to the conversation, I think that would be helpful.

The possibility of a State-owned petroleum company was also mentioned. For the record, it is suggested in the Wood Mackenzie report that at some stage we would look at the possibility of having a State-owned company. I do not think we are at that stage yet. In terms of the development stage, we have had four successes. Are we at a stage, as a nation, to invest perhaps €100 million on a drill which might not be successful? In terms of the developmental stage and our current position, we are going in the right direction and, at some point in the future, the suggestion in the Wood Mackenzie report should be considered.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh also raised his concerns on fracking and I have dealt with those. Senator Whelan asked how geography, science, the geological surveys and all the different information that we collate feeds into decisions? That is a legitimate question. For example, if we look at the mistakes in building houses on flood plains, we must ask was the appropriate information available? It probably was not. Is the information available now? A lot of the information from the GSI research will be invaluable in terms of building houses on flood plains, which has been a disaster for many people.

On the connection between our history as a people and landscape, I am finding out more and more about my local area while on my own journey re-learning Irish. There are Irish placenames with connotations or references to flood plains.

If we had that knowledge even through language, we would not have built those houses in the first place. The Senator raised a legitimate question about information not being used in the proper context. He also asked how all this information feeds into the decision and into local authorities, what happens when it goes to An Bord Pleanála and what information the board uses. The work going on in my Department and the resources available to us through the Tellus project will be key to decisions local authorities will have to make. It will also be key to have the OPW involved.

I have covered the Senator's concerns regarding fracking. There are fears around timelines. I was prompted by him to put on record that ongoing engagement is needed. I am sure he will avail of the opportunity in the new year. At some stage in the new year, I will seek to examine what has been happening and what has been found through the EPA research. I will demand that we have an opportunity in both Houses to continue the debate because there are concerns. Once I took up this post in the middle of the summer, there was a debate about my Gaeltacht portfolio but people in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Fermanagh and Cavan did not overlook the fact that I have responsibility for this area. I will, therefore, ensure the conversation continues.

Senator Kelly also asked about EirGrid and surveys in the context of subsidence within distances of between 40 and 50 miles. I will seek the information on that because that comes under the auspices of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. If surveys on subsidence have been conducted in the context of EirGrid developments, I will check that out. The Senator also referred to focusing on wind and not on other forms of energy. A conversation has taken place over the past number of years about moving into one area or another but we need a mix. There is no single quick fix to the country's energy needs. I have a keen interest in the ongoing work and research on tidal and wave energy but, at the same time, we must consider a mixed basket in order that we do not become too reliant on one energy form or another.

Senator Brennan referred to the information I provided regarding GDP and how much of a benefit this is to the economy. Since I took up this job, I have learned about the benefit to the economy of the likes of Navan Mines. It is the largest zinc producer in Europe. Perhaps we are not getting that message out. Navan Mines contributes 2.2% of the world's zinc production and 0.8% of the world's lead production. It is massive and I would like to acknowledge all the people involved in all the companies engaged in lead and zinc extraction. There is momentum in the industry. There are 634 prospecting licences. The message from my Department is there is an enthusiasm in this regard. Ireland is open for business in terms of lead and zinc extraction.

The Senator also alluded to the Tellus project and its benefits as well as his concerns about fracking. He will no doubt keep on my toes to ensure we have a debate in 2015 in both Houses on where we are in the context of the research.

At one stage, Ireland was the fourth largest country in Europe, which is phenomenal. When I met people from Newfoundland over the past number of weeks, they pointed out they are interested in the west of Ireland because during Pangaea, we were all locked together. They are coming across the same tectonic patterns and they are sharing information. As the Senator said, all the research and information GSI is getting from Tellus is publicly available. Schools and business can access it and it is available to Government, which is beneficial.

Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an Seanad as ucht cuireadh a thabhairt dom teacht anseo. Tá mé thar a bheith sásta leis an díospóireacht mhaith a bhí againn um thráthnóna. Tá suim mhór agam sa cheangal atá ann idir an mheánscoil agus an bunscoil. Tá daoine sa Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha ag obair ar an ábhar seo. Mar focal scoir, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le mo chuid oifigigh - mo chomhghleacaithe - sa Roinn sin. Tá iarrachtaí móra á dhéanamh acu leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun tosaigh. Ba mhaith liom arís mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil leo. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach arís.