Calls for publication of fracking report

Sinn Féin calls on publication of fracking policy


Anton McNulty

The Government have been called upon to follow the example of the Northern Ireland executive in relation to fracking after a number of townlands in east Mayo have been listed for preliminary authorisations for hydraulic fracking.
Earlier this month, Northern Irish Environment Minister Mark Durkan denied permission to carry out deep bore test drilling in Fermanagh and Sinn Féin have called on the Irish Government to follow a similar stance.
Sinn Feín representative in Swinford John Sheahan said the prospect of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking as it is commonly known, occurring in the east of the county was leading to growing concerns locally and has called on the Irish Government to to publish its position in relation to fracking.
“The Government needs to make its position in relation to fracking clear otherwise one can only conclude that the Fine Gael and Labour position is the same as that of the previous led Fianna FΡil government which favours the practice of fracking despite major concerns being expressed by farming communities affected by such a practice.
“I welcome the decision taken by Minister Durkan in the North. Fracking will have serious environmental and health implications for people in the vicinity of fracking along the Moy Basin and will impact negatively on farming, fishing and tourism. Therefore Minister [Alex] White [Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources] needs to follow the example of Minister Durkan’s decision and clearly state that this Government will not allow this dangerous practice to proceed in this state,” he said.
In a response to Minister Durkan’s decision, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said his decision was ‘a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities’ and and ‘no licences have been granted that would allow the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration for unconventional gas’ in Ireland.
“There is also a commitment that applications proposing the use of this technology will not be evaluated until there has been time to study the findings of a major two-year EPA led research programme that is about to commence which will consider the potential impacts on the environment and human health from unconventional gas exploration,” the Department stated.