Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
942. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the applications for onshore petroleum exploration licences can be revoked by his Department, before the Environmental Protection Agency study findings are reported; and if so, the grounds that would lead to invalidation of those applications and their subsequent dismissal by his Department. [11386/15]
View answerWhile my Department has carried out a preliminary examination of these applications, further consideration has been put on hold until there has been time to consider the outcome of the major research programme commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency. As I have informed the House on a number of occasions no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing, as part of an unconventional gas exploration or extraction project, until there has been time to consider the outcome of the EPA research, which is not expected before mid-2016.
The completion of this research project will ensure that future decision making is informed by extensive scientific analysis based on the consideration of baseline data with respect to ground-water, air and seismicity together with consideration of the potential implications and mitigations that are required to be considered in order to understand the possible environmental impacts of using this technology and whether or not it can be undertaken in an environmentally protective manner in accordance with the requirements of environmental law.
