Bill to ban fracking looks set to be voted through in the Dáil

A Bill proposing a ban on fracking oil and gas in the State looks as if it will be voted through in the Dáil on Thursday.

The proposed legislation has been brought by Fine Gael Deputy for Sligo-Leitrim Tony McLoughlin. It proposes the prohibition of hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) to obtain shale oil and gas. This method relies on high-pressure water to fracture rocks which contain deposits of the ore.

No extraction has taken place using this method in the State. The EPA is concluding a study into the issues for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Energy. Its findings are due later this year.

Mr McLoughlin’s constituency forms part of the region around the Border that has been identified as having the most potential for fracking. Local and national groups are campaigning against the controversial extraction method.

The Prohibiting of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016 is likely to be backed by the Government and all other groups and parties when it is tabled on Thursday.

To coincide with the Bill, the Sustainable Water Network (Swan) published research into the impact of the method. The report concluded there were numerous impacts on water bodies including increases in salinity, methane and heavy metals. Leaks from the machinery used also has the potential to contaminate water, it found.

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