Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 March 2015
43. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Shale Gas REC report published in early March by the European Commission, which revealed an alarming lack of consistency in regulation; and his further views to lobby within the EU for a European wide fracking ban. [10229/15]
View answerIn January 2014, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation inviting Member States to follow minimum principles when applying or adapting their legislation applicable to hydrocarbons exploration or production using high volume hydraulic fracturing. At that time the Commission also issued a Communication outlining the potential new opportunities and challenges stemming from shale gas extraction in Europe, as well as an Impact Assessment that examined the socio-economic and environmental impacts of various policy options. Member States were invited to inform the Commission by the end of 2014 on measures that they had put in place in response to the Recommendation and the Commission has recently published the information provided by Member States. As expected, the information provided illustrates differing circumstances between Member States in terms of both the existence of unconventional hydrocarbon resources and where such resources exist, whether or not exploration is taking place.
While the Commission has not proposed a uniform approach to regulation in this area, it has confirmed that assessment of projects proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration for and production of shale gas, is subject to a number of EU Directives, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the Habitats Directive. In addition to the Recommendation and Communication mentioned already, the Commission has published a number of research documents into the potential impacts of unconventional exploration and extraction of gas including:
1. Unconventional Gas: Potential Energy Market Impacts in the EU;
2. Climate Impact of Potential Shale Gas Production in the EU;
3. Report on the identification of potential risks for the environment and human health arising from Unconventional Gas operations in Europe; and
4. Mitigation of Climate Impacts of Possible Future Shale Gas Extraction in the EU, Available Technologies best practices and options for policy makers.
Within the context of existing EU legislation and guidance provided, it is a matter for each Member State to determine its own approach to the exploitation of its hydrocarbon natural resources. As the Deputy will be aware, decision making in Ireland will be informed by the findings of a major programme of research that was commissioned last year by the EPA, with a report expected in 2016. I can once again confirm that no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of any unconventional gas exploration and extraction programme in Ireland, until there has been time to consider the outcome of this EPA research.
