Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2015
68. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will suspend the research project by the Environmental Protection Agency into hydraulic fracturing due to concerns regarding the independence and integrity of the project. [39146/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWill the Minister of State suspend the research project by the Environmental Protection Agency into hydraulic fracturing due to the concerns regarding the independence and integrity of the project? The Minister of State's response may include a rehash of how the EPA research started and the fact that no licences will issue until the report comes in. If so, will the Minister skip that part and get to the substance of the answer?
I will answer the question. I assume the focus of the Deputy's question is recent public comment relating to the role of the lead consultant in the multi-agency transboundary programme of research and the potential impacts on the environment and human health from unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects. This research programme is administered by the EPA and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad-based steering committee that includes representatives from my Department.
As is usual in major and broad-ranging projects, the project team involves a wide range of expert institutions and companies. CDM Smith is the lead consultant in the consortium engaged to carry out the programme of research. The consortium includes the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, Amec Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors, each offering a particular specialism required by the project scope. I understand that the contract for this programme of research was awarded following a robust evaluation process in compliance with public procurement guidelines and that the tender submitted by the consortium headed by CDM Smith was evaluated as being the strongest bid.
I am aware that there has been some comment on the fact that internationally CDM Smith has provided expert advice to oil companies involved in the development of unconventional gas resources. However, CDM Smith has also provided advice to State bodies and regulatory agencies across its area of expertise.
As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is common that a broad range of parties will seek to draw on the specialist expertise available from a firm such as CDM Smith. The fact that disparate entities seek to draw on such expertise is generally seen as an indicator of a company's recognised experience.
I do not know about the Minister of State, but when I see a company like CDM Smith leading and co-ordinating this project as well as having an influential role in deciding who will do the various phases of the work, like any reasonable person, I am entitled to question the independence and integrity of the report.
I have no doubt it will cause irreparable damage to the reputation of the EPA.
I also understand that at least one of the universities named as being associated with this report was associated with only part of it and distanced itself from the overall work. There is no doubt that there will be serious questions about integrity and independence. The problem is that the next phase of the work involves people going onto land in north Leitrim, west Cavan and south-west Fermanagh. Undoubtedly, landowners will lock gates and not allow people onto their land because of the questions over independence. The sensible and the right thing to do would be to suspend the process, at least until after the EPA appears before an Oireachtas committee on 2 December.
There are legitimate concerns, which are shared by the Minister, Deputy White, and me. The former Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, also shared those concerns in 2011 when he made the decision to begin the process. The EPA is independent and I have tremendous confidence in it to do a job like this. There was a procurement process and CDM Smith won the tender. We can use all sorts of terms such as "leading", "co-ordinating", "heading up a team" or whatever.
I have confidence not alone in the EPA but in the steering group. I have tremendous confidence in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Geological Survey of Ireland, the Commission for Energy Regulation, the Health Service Executive, An Bord Pleanála, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. A collaborative effort is taking place to get the research right and to ensure we are informed and that any future decisions will be informed ones. That is the important thing.
No reputational damage has been done to the EPA. It has been very consistent and focused in ensuring the two pillars of the research, namely, environment and human health, are addressed. A public consultation process took place.
The Deputy referred to Queen's University Belfast. For the purposes of the public record, it was confirmed that the university was initially participating as part of the research consortium. Due to a change in the resources available in the university, the tasks allocated to it were transferred to CDM Smith, supported by GSNI. The university is still involved, and it is important to point that out, as part of the internal review process carried out by the consortium.
I thank the Minister of State. He made a good attempt to try to convince me of the independence and integrity of the project. His attempt failed and will fail with most reasonable people listening to the debate.
There is a wider context. I have spoken to many Deputies and Ministers in the House. All of them told me fracking will never be allowed to happen on this small island. It is time there was political accountability and that political responsibility was taken. It is time we acknowledge that the initial mistake was to issue an invitation to submit expressions of interest. It is now time to say we will not allow fracking in this country.
It is time we stopped funding the EPA to gather information that energy companies will be able to use in a future legal action against this country, in particular when the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and investor-state dispute settlement are introduced. Make no mistake about it, what we are doing is paying burglars and giving them the plans of our houses in order that they can come back and burgle us. The train is rolling. Who is in charge?
There is cross-party concern. The Deputy's constituency colleagues, Deputy Tony McLoughlin and Senator Michael Comiskey, have reflected local concerns. We have to give responsibility to the EPA. No organisation is better equipped to examine the environmental impact of the process.
I have confidence in the stakeholders I have listed - I will not list them again - to ensure this is a collaborative approach that they conduct the proper research and that they are given sufficient resources to do so. Too often the public says politicians make decisions without investigation or research and without ensuring they know what they are making a decision on. Politicians will be making a decision based on informed investigation. That is why I have confidence in this process. It is important we ensure there is a collaborative effort.
