Attwood moves to assure that no decision made on fracking

Rodney Edwards • Published 2 Feb 2012 13:00 0 Comments

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Environment Minister Alex Attwood says there is a need to "get the right balance" on fracking.

Speaking yesterday, he said: "I want to reassure people, particularly in Fermanagh, that no decisions have been taken by my Department about permitting fracking - indeed no planning applications have been received.

I also confirm that all requirements on the current plans or future plans will be rigorously complied with.

"As I have outlined, my officials in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) are reviewing emerging research, studying case studies from other parts of the world and liaising with counterparts in other Environment Agencies in Britain and Ireland, and other EU countries where fracking is currently proposed or taking place.

"As this work is completed, a broader evidence base will emerge which will aid more effective decision making, DOE will also ensure that high levels of public consultation are undertaken," he said.

There has been considerable reaction to the news that test drilling for shale gas could commence in the county in 2013. Dr. Carroll O'Dolan of the Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network described Tamboran's annoucement as "vague and aspirational".

"The only thing that is definite is that this company will make profit using our resources and will leave our communities to clean up the mess," he said.

Dr. O'Dolan said the Network called on he Government "to listen to the voices" and place an "immediate moratorium "on the extraction technique.

"We ask local communities not to let the shale gas industry "facts" lull us into a false sense of security; for in all other places they have been, their hype does not turn out to be true".

Also reacting to the news yesterday was Sinn Fein MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Phil Flanagan, who said: "The fact that many other countries have moved to slow down or even stop the use of fracking should be a warning call to Ministers on this island; we should at the very least follow their approach and call a halt to this process until all the relevant environmental and economic consequences have been taken into consideration."

Meanwhile on The Impartial Reporter Twitter page, readers have discussing the news, too.

Alice Charles said she believed fracking would be "disastrous for the environment, public health and tourism industry". Dean Molyneaux added: "Saddened to hear fracking tests will begin next year in west Fermanagh."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Feb 12

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