With no established industry, let’s ban fracking before it begins

It is estimated internationally that 6% of the wells the frackers bore through the rock will leak, writes Victoria White.

IT LOOKS as if the Dáil will today debate banning fracking on Irish soil and in its internal waters prior to a vote next Thursday that will probably be a “Yes”.

The Prohibiting of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016 is proposed by Fine Gael TD for Sligo/Leitrim, Tony Mc Loughlin. It has the support of most of the opposition and, it seems, most of the Government.