Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2012
109Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Environmental Protection Agency report on fracking; the terms of reference of a further report on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30796/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 11 May 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, published its preliminary research into the environmental aspects of shale gas extraction in the form of a small desk-based study carried out by the University of Aberdeen. Among the main findings of this review was the observation that the integrity of the well is vital for minimising potential impact in regard to fracking in terms of ground water contamination from leaks and well blow-outs, in which instances fracking fluid could potentially enter groundwater. The knowledge of local geology was identified as an important issue, as was the question of the carbon footprint arguments in regard to natural gas. In terms of environmental impacts, the report outlined potential impacts due to the large volumes of water used and related issues in regard to storage and disposal.
Arising from that report, it is the intention of my Department, in conjunction with the EPA, to undertake a second, more broadly-based study in order to identify best practice in respect of environmental protection for the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques. It is anticipated that this research will commence later in the year, following the engagement of the relevant experts. The conduct of the study is expected to take up to 12 months, which would give a potential publication date in late 2013.
The Fianna Fáil Party's position is that the issuing of any further licences, whether exploratory or preliminary, should be put on hold in the absence of a broader national policy. We must move with haste to address these issues. The Minister of State outlined the findings of the desk study that is in the public domain. In regard to the second report he has commissioned, will he indicate or undertake to publish its terms of reference? I was going to probe him on the time line, but he has indicated it will be 12 months. When will the research commence and when will it finish? What form will the public consultation take? This is a highly contentious issue in communities throughout the State, as the Minister of State knows. The greater the level of public engagement on the issue, the better.
I agree that we must have full engagement with the public, particularly with regard to the terms of reference of this study. A steering committee will comprise, among others, representatives of the Department of the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Commission for Energy Regulation and the Environmental Protection Agency. The call for research will go out later this year. We intend to publish the terms of reference and to have public consultations on them before we proceed with the actual study. The terms of reference are critical because the outcome of further research will assist in a robust, scientific-based assessment of any future application proposing the use of this technology. Until there has been time to consider the second stage of the EPA's research, I can confirm that the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling will not be authorised.
If the Minister of State is in a position to do so, can he clarify who the chairperson will be? He mentioned a number of organisations but will he be appointing an independent chairperson to co-ordinate the public consultation and the exercise in preparing the report?
I presume that the Department itself will be involved in the research along with the EPA. The key thing is that we get robust scientific facts, not fiction. Whatever the facts are we must find them in their finest, broadest, most scientific and analytical detail. The terms of reference will be on the websites of the Department and the EPA freely, openly and transparently so people can make representations. It will proceed by the end of this year and nothing can happen until then. There will not, and cannot, be any hydraulic fracturing.
The Minister of State said that no other exploratory licences would be issued. Is that correct?
Yes. The only ones that have been issued were issued by the former Minister of State, Mr. Conor Lenihan. He is the only person who issued a licensing option. Nothing else will happen until this research is launched. The Deputy does have a point, however, in that under the licensing option issued by the previous Government, the company will have an opportunity before end-March 2013 to indicate if it will proceed to the next phase, which is an exploration phase. It is up to the company to do that and we cannot anticipate what will happen. Even if it does that, however, nothing will happen until this report is in place.
