Fracking ban ‘ a step nearer’

DEPUTY Tony McLoughlin’s Private Members Bill to ban fracking has been unanimously supported by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action and Environment

Deputy McLoughlin said: “We are now one step closer to having an outright ban on fracking- the extraction and exploration of onshore shale gas and petroleum- in this country.

“I am glad to see that my Bill has now received the full support of the Environment Committee and that they have fully supported my reasoning and aims with this Bill. I fully expect now that it will be brought to the Committee stage of the legislative process within the next four weeks, after the Government has received its advice on proposed amendments from the Attorney General’s Office.

“This legislation will ensure that no onshore exploration or extraction can ever occur.” He added: “My Bill does not seek to simply ban the technology associated with fracking, rather it seeks to ban the act of taking oil and gas out of the ground, where usually fracking would be needed.

“It also provides for a clear and unequivocal position in relation to the exploration and extraction of petroleum from shale rock, tight sands and coal seams on the Irish onshore and also in our internal waters.”

His Bill was selected for debate in the Dáil late last year and it was supported unanimously by the Government and every other political party.

The Bill was then referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment by the Dáil for pre legislative scrutiny. A report was then conducted by the committee, which included a public consultation and the EPA- led Joint Research Programme on the Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on the Environment and Human Health.

Deputy McLoughlin added: “I am also very happy to see Sligo County Council are in full support of my legislation to ban fracking in Ireland.”