Fracking bill is passed by the Dáil

FINE Gael TD Tony McLoughlin’s fracking Bill is the first Private Members’ Bill to be passed by the current Dáil.

Sligo’s Deputy McLoughlin said his Bill will protect hundreds of thousands of people from the harmful and damaging effects of hydraulic fracking,

He is delighted to see it progress and says it will safeguard the North West from fracking.

Deputy McLoughlin said: “This Bill will ensure that the environment and communities in the West and North West of Ireland are protected from the effects of hydraulic fracking, so this is a special moment for me and the people I was elected to represent.re

“The progress of this Bill this year shows that away from all theh negativity in the media that surroundssu the concept of ‘ new politics’,p that it can work quite well, if all sides of the house engage pro- actively together.

“Since I introduced my Bill to this House on 8th June 2016 ata the First Stage, it has progressedg at a rapid pace.

“It could not be clearer that it is a very necessary law that has been heavily scrutinised and continually improved.

“The scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that permitting fracking in Ireland and Northern Ireland would pose significant threats to the air, water and the health and safety of individuals and communities here.

“If it was ever permitted to occur in Ireland, counties such as Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Clare could end up seeing damaging effects like many effected cities and towns in the United States, many of which I must add have now decided to implemented similar bans to the one before us.

“On this basis, it ultimately must be seen as a serious public health and environmental concern for tens of thousands of people in the Republic of Ireland.”

Deputy McLoughlin continued: “This Bill has been drafted, amended and improved over the last 11 months thanks to the kind help and assistance of the Government, and a number of local and national NGO’s and organisations.

“In particular, I want to thank Minister Sean Kyne and Denise Naughton, Kate Ruddock of ‘ Friends of the Earth’, Mr Eddie Mitchell and the entire active committee of ‘ Love Leitrim’, Aideen McLoughlin, Liam Breslin and all the members of the Good Energies Alliance, my staff in my political office and all the other people who have supported me with the Bill thus far.

He concluded: “There can be no substitute for hard work and it is only through hard work that this Bill has got this far.

“I now eagerly await its passage through the Seanad and the final signature of the President.”