In a huge victory for the environment, the people of Ireland, and the global community, the Oireachtas — or Irish legislature — has banned onshore fracking. Signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins on July 6th, the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Act 2017 makes Ireland the fifth EU member to ban fracking along with Bulgaria, France, and Germany (although Germany’s ban is debatable as it’s not absolute and still allows for certain types of fracking).
According to Dáil member, Deputy Tony McLoughlin, who introduced the bill:
“This law will mean communities in the West and North West of Ireland will be safeguarded from the negative effects of hydraulic fracking. Counties such as Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Clare will no longer face negative effects like those seen in cities and towns in the United States, where many areas have now decided to implement similar bans to the one before us.
If fracking was allowed to take place in Ireland and Northern Ireland, it would pose significant threats to the air, water, and the health and safety of individuals and communities here.
Fracking must be seen as a serious public health and environmental concern for Ireland.”
In the process of fracking, chemicals, water, and sand are released at very high pressure into the earth to break rock and uncover gas. It’s like a forced earthquake. Releasing toxic, radioactive gases and carcinogens, exposing people, land, and water to illness and poison, fracking has caused debilitating health and environmental damage.
Despite this, fracking in the US is regulated by states and has been on a steady upswing since the 1990s. Clean, renewable energy is the only safe option for a sustainable energy system. Hopefully more countries follow Ireland’s lead. The US certainly doesn’t show any signs of doing so. But hopefully, eventually by competitive necessity or by the unlikely ethical, moral choice, it will have to follow suit. Until then, pressuring our representatives to ban fracking is our best bet.
This is great news!
LETS ALL HOPE THIS BECOMES A WORLD WIDE THING TO DO
This is just a red herring from Irish Green Party Politicoes. Ireland has no only on-land oil resources. The only thing Ireland has is offshore!
Per wiki:
Barryroe is an oil and gas field discovered in the Celtic Sea due south of Cork. Close to the exhausted Kinsale Head gas field, it is as close as 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the Kinsale Head existing pipeline.[1][2][3][4] The discovery is at a water depth of 100 metres (330 ft).[5] Several attempts were made to find a commercial field at the site in the 1970s but although they struck oil, none were commercially viable. It has been rated as the equivalent of a large North Sea oil field.
The well is currently 80% owned by Providence Resources and 20% by Lansdowne Oil & Gas. Providence intend to reduce this holding by inviting a major international firm to exploit this discovery.
You are totally wrong, “Endlesspath”. Your comment is misleading. So let’s get the facts straight. The onshore fracking ban was brought in by a Fine Gael TD and got wide cross party support. There were two companies applying for exploration licences to drill and frack for shale gas in Ireland.
The history can be found here => https://sites.google.com/site/shalegasbulletinireland/
The story how one company was trying to lie itself through the process => https://sites.google.com/site/frackingireland/open-letter-to-the-members-of-the-31st-dail-eireann-hydraulic-shale-gas-fracturing—tamborans-claims—chemicals-involved-in-the-fracking-procedure
IRELAND, SMART MOVE. YOU ARE SMARTER THAN THE STATES. IT SHOULD BE BANNED EVERYWHERE!
Actually, that “just” happened a year ago => https://sites.google.com/site/shalegasbulletinireland/all-previous-issues/issue-no-108—july-15-2017#President_Higgins_signs_Irish_fracking_ban_into_law
I am beginning to think I should move to Ireland 🙂
Ireland has taken a civilized and evolved step for health and environment. If only my primitive, greedy country (USA) would get with the program. In my state (California) Governor Jerry Brown, a so-called environmentalist, is an avid supporter of fracking. That’s the main reason I hate him — the liar/hypocrite. My ancestors are largely from Ireland. I’m so proud and grateful to you.
GREAT NEWS!!, NOW WE NEED TO DO THE SAME IN U.S.A.
Well done to everybody who voted against this. Humans are guardians of the planet and all life, and to make such barbaric, desecration of the Earth that fracking is, is shameful and disrespectful to all.
I wish Australia would follow suit Currently fracking is going on off the coasts of South Australia and the Northern Territory. People are trying to get it banned over here. Bravo Ireland for doing so. 🌍🌎🌏
Bravo Ireland!!!
The Galarneau family
So inspiring!!