Fracking will create jobs, but not for Irish

Environment Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd claims that fracking will create “thousands of jobs”.

This is true, but not jobs for Irish people. The oil and gas industry is international; Ireland does not have the engineering and construction capability or sufficient skilled labour. Whilst fracking has been used for some time for offshore vertical wells, using the technology onshore for horizontal wells is relatively new, and there is no doubt that the fluid used for fracturing rock strata can and has entered aquifers and poisoned water supplies. Only if the risks (which are largely unknown) can be drastically mitigated should it be allowed in Ireland. Nobody should be so naïve as to believe everything oil and gas companies say. The figures they claim for reserves are absurdly optimistic to push up the share price, and it is never clear whether they are talking about possible or probable oil or gas in place, recoverable reserves, or estimated or proven reserves.

Either way, the energy crunch is looming, and it is irresponsible for the Government not to take any steps to reduce energy consumption before oil and gas becomes unaffordable or unavailable.

Michael Job

Glengarriff

Co Cork