Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the ongoing cross-Border study into hydraulic fracturing being funded by his Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has not been compromised, given that the lead on the project has been taken by a company (details supplied) which has links to the oil and gas industry; that the independence of the study remains, given that Queens University Belfast has withdrawn from the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39883/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects is administered by the EPA and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department. As is usual in major and broad ranging projects such as this, the project team involves a wide range of expert institutions and companies. CDM Smith is the lead consultant in the consortium engaged to carry out the programme of research and that consortium includes the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors, each offering a particular specialism required by the project scope.

The Terms of Reference for this research programme were agreed by a broadly based Steering Group following public consolation which yielded more than 1,300 submissions on the draft Terms of Reference. The EPA and the Steering Committee reviewed the submissions and the draft Terms of Reference were amended and strengthened after this public consultation. I understand that the contract for this programme of research was awarded following a robust evaluation process in compliance with public procurement guidelines, where the tender submitted by the CDM Smith headed consortium was evaluated as being the strongest bid.

I am aware that there has been some comment on the fact that internationally CDM Smith has provided expert advice to oil companies involved in the development of unconventional gas resources. I should point out that CDM Smith has also provided advice to State bodies and regulatory agencies across its area of expertise.

As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is common that a broad range of parties will seek to draw on the specialist expertise available from a firm such as CDM Smith. The fact that disparate entities seek to draw on such expertise, is generally seen as an indicator of a company's recognised experience.

Queens University Belfast (QUB) was initially participating as part of the Research Consortium. I understand that due to a change in resources available in QUB, the tasks allocated to QUB were transferred to CDM Smith supported by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. I also understand that QUB has had an involvement with a part of the internal review process carried out by the Consortium.