Council adopts ban on fracking
COUNCILLORS voted unnanimously on Monday to insert a ban on fracking in the new County Development Plan.
Officials had warned that putting such a ban in place the council could be seen ac acting unlawfully.
However, at a special meeting of the Council yesterday ( Monday), a motion from Councillor Declan Bree, seconded by Cllr Gino O’Boyle banning fracking was unanimously passed.
Cllr Bree said when the Council commenced the process of considering the Draft County Development Plan last June, the elected members made a very wise and significant decision, to include a comprehensive ban on hydraulic fracturing.
“The fracking ban was warmly welcomed by the people of this community who fully recognise the dangers that fracking poses to water quality, to human safety and to the general environment,” he said.
He said he was surprised to learn that the move was opposed by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and was subsequently backed by Council Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes who stated that the format and wording of the motion was not appropriate for a Development Plan or policy document.
“Fortunately, it is not regional assembly or the chief executive who ultimately decide what is included in our Development Plan – it is the elected representatives of the people of this county who make the decision,
“What we in Ireland need now, is not to indulge the greed of the oil and gas companies who will do anything to get further profit out of the ground, What we need is investment in clean, safe and sustainable energy that can provide for people’s needs and protect the environment,” said Cllr Bree.