Fracking was introduced by FF on their last day in power, says all they you need to about this.

We cannot allow fracking in Ireland, first because of the environmental risks, second because of the nod and wink cute hoor brigade who would probably pawn the prospecting and extraction rights for a few pieces of silver a la Corrib gas, and third because this shale gas is only viable now because of the price and demand, so its big business who finances and pushes it, you probably find their sponsored environmental impact reports to be amazingly positive, same is happening in Canada with the oil sand industry, go ask some of the native camnadian indians who live there about the spike in cancer rates and the dioxins found in the rivers there

I’m not one to side with the Rossport rent-a-crowd, but fracking has too many unknowns to make it viable. The idea of altering the pressure structure of large swathes of underlying rock, for whatever reason, makes me very uneasy. It’s like reaching your hand into the bottom of a mound of rocks and weaving your hand about in there. You might be alright, or you might dislodge the upper rocks to fall on you.

The amount of information you’d need to get on pressure distributions down there is beyond today’s technology to get. Fracking is too dangerous and should be banned until we know how to do it perfectly.

Please find out about fracking, if it was allowed it would completely ruin our beautiful island of Ireland, there is so much evidence now that it pollutes ground water, causes earthquakes, causes health problems, the list is endless. Watch Gasland yes but there is a lot more less emotional evidence, although once you start to educate yourself about this, it is impossible not to be emotional about it.

The damage done can never be undone, its not worth for the sake of enriching a few.

No fracking way!

It has caused a lot of problems, sadly the companies don’t care about our environment,
Money, money, money!

Does anyone else feel that it should stay in the ground where it belongs and that we should work with renewable energy? For our well-being, rather than for profit?

Or have people lost all sense of what is really important?
Your health is your wealth . .
One Love

I live in county Leitrim and have spent the last seven months researching hydraulic fracturing. For those who maintain that anti fracking activists are exaggerating the extent of environmental damage caused by fracking, I suggest that they educate themselves a little better before making such accusations. One gentleman was daring enough to suggest that images of people setting their tap water on fire due to methane contamination from gas wells are fake. This is simply not true. The documentary from which these images were taken is called Gasland, a film by Pennsylvanian fimmaker Josh Fox. Gasland was nominated for an Academy Award and is acknowledged as a superb and fact based investigative fim. Moreover, such stories of methane contamination were broadcast on American news so to claim that this never happened is negligence of a widely accepted fact. If anybody believes the nonsense being spouted by individuals on this page that Big Gas has our interests at heart, I recommend an article in the Huffington Post by environmental lawyer Robert F Kennedy Jr who is assigned to advise New York state on the viability of fracking in the state. The New York Times has also carried out some superb investigative journalism on this subject; the “drilling down” series of articles on hydraulic fracturing are entirely fact based. Any information on the internet which denies that hydraulic fracturing has been responsible for contamintion of water supplies by toxic chemicals and methane gas is the propaganda of oil and gas companies. Having done so much research on this subject myself and as a native of the area to be destroyed should fracking be given the green light, I can safely say that my mind is irreversibly made up: No fracking way!

Frack off to the Frackers!

Fracking has potential in places like Canada or America where there are vast spaces larger than Ireland that are hardly populated.

In Ireland it will be an expensive disaster, given that it will benefit a small few at greater cost to the taxpayer, then I presume it will be enthusiastically backed.

Great piece on Fracking in Pennsylvania by the New York Times http://goo.gl/jqcSa
– rise in animal deaths and elevated levels of arsenic and other industrial solvents like benzene and toluene found in the blood of some of the locals since Fracking began.

Christ above I had to read the headline twice before I saw what it said!! phew!!

Oh no, please let us prevent this. If you google ‘fracking’ you will find many reasons why this is just more rape and damage to the planet and we don’t need to go back to the money argument…
Let us demand the clean energy technologies that have been repressed ever since GP Morgan pulled the funding for Tesla and he was prevented to make it available. They exist – some people re-invent those generators right now. Let us support them, create a new industry instead of just looking for saving on your energy bill – let’s do the right thing.

. on that note my partner has just told me . that fracking. is not good . as it don’t serve any purpose . as when it was done in Lancashire .uk. it caused a mini earthquake. he worked as manager for ICI. in the uk. . and knowing about this . it could be a disaster for Ireland. if it went ahead .

Fracking has potential in places like Canada or America where there are vast spaces larger than Ireland that are hardly populated.

In Ireland it will be a disaster.

Fracking should be banned here its banned in a most states in the US and its being scrutinized all over the US its totally banned in New York most recently in Ohio, Geologists have stated it has caused 6 earthquakes since it was given the go ahead the most recent earthquake was in December. look an you tube Fracking Hell the untold story. Some of the main chemicals used in Fracking are waste water, Benzine, formaldehyde, sand and hydraulic fluids most other chemicals are unknown. this form of gas extraction pollutes fresh drinking water the chemicals get into the fresh water system including gas leeks its not safe and has no benefit to the Economy.

Fracking Moratorium Urged as Doctors Call for Health Study

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/01/09/bloomberg_articlesLXJW7C0YHQ0X.DTL#ixzz1j5lQVg6V

Absolutely noway, it would contaminate our whole water supply animals and the nature around would die and for what a few greedy corrupt politicians to get a brown envolope from Shell or the like sand the people not to gain an iota from this, no to fracking no to the sell out of our beautiful land!

If anyone is interested watch a great documentary called Gasland.This deals alot with fracking.

This is Ireland. You’ll say no, they’ll do it anyway. Meek old Irish, never stand up for themselves

Fracking will create a minute amount of jobs and undo all the hard work done in this area to promote it as an eco-tourism destination. The EU poured a lot of funds into that project and it is now beginning to work. All that will be lost.

Not to mention the water contamination…one of the mapped proposed drilling rigs Dowra 1 and Dowra 2 on Boleybrack are right beside the lough that feeds our group water scheme. Oh, yes!

And with house prices plummeting 7% in County Leitrim last year you don’t really see us able to try and leave to areas with potable water, do you?

It simply cannot happen!

I have first hand experience with it in Pa. The Lake ASSOC. sold off rights to co. to frack in area as did many of the surrounding folks who need income.,well say goodbye to your pristine hills,your water and your children’s health. There are several in the area who can turn their kitchen faucets on,light a match and see the water burn. Where do you think the chemicals they are forcing down with the “air” dissipate to. All who signed up regret it, the lake is drained at the dam,everyone told dam needed to be fixed (not) and everyone who owns at the lake can’t sell. Yes, they all said “Gasland” was overdone. Not saying it now, asking for help from state…. If ye let this happen,will regret it forever..

Worth a read in regards local employment:
http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-01-10/fracking-nonsense-job-myth-gas-drilling

Try http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/home.php for an independent opinion.

Yes, yes, and yes – ban it nationwide please. If Clare County council want it banned it can’t be good because they have learneda lot through the years about protecting the land. But of course, we say yes to the ban, if we had to have a referendum on it they’d keep coming back to us until we give them the right answer. Same ole tactics, frighten the people out of their wits that this is a way of us benefiting financially – and then charge us extra for our stupidity while blowing up our beautiful island.

I believe that most Scientific studies are usually commissioned and paid for by the people who need them to come up with Desirable results. If you want to know what is really going on you need to speak with the people who are directly affected by the disastrous almost non existent environmental policies of greedy oil and gas exploration companies. Backed by the “Experts Say” Brigade who personally gain not one iota and loose more than they know all to espouse their non productive academic and intellectual prowess. Gulf Oil Spill anyone!!! Just one small Example

I live in regional Queensland Australia, Our whole countryside is being taken over by CSG ( fracking,) It is highly toxic and poisons the underground water. Animals are also poisoned from drinking water and eating the grass. The earth releases carcinogenic chemicals from the “cracks” created from Fracking, aside from the ones used in the process. Once the Gas companies get on the land , there is no stopping them. Watch the Irish film “THE PIPE” and you will see how MERCILESS they are to ordinary citizens.
We have an organisation here called LOCK THE GATE .If you Google it , you will see what is going on here, AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.
PLEASE BAN FRACKING IN IRELAND. If anyone can do it ……THE IRISH CAN. bless

Surprised at so many people prepared to accept what the EPA says – why not read the information for yourselves and make up your own minds? Look up Fracking on YouTube – there is NOTHING positive to say about it. Its a method of extracting gas, but at ENORMOUS costs to both the environment, particularly our rivers and water systems, and the impact on surrounding landscapes, towns and villages. It has also been cited as a cause of earthquakes and is now being banned worldwide. Do the Irish have to be the gobshites who sign up to the destruction of our country? Are we not bad enough already without some moronic Government Minister signing away not only our environment but the sole rights to our own resources – just as they did in Corrib?

Cop on people. We all have a responsibility in this. Its about time the citizens faced up to their responsibilities and stop letting these bloodsuckers ride us to hell.

Despite the obvious dangers associated with using hydraulic fracturing to extract the gas, of which they’re many, one also wonders why we are letting a foreign company pillage our national resources. Richard Moorman, CEO of one of the companies involved in North Leitrim, Tamboran resources, reluctantly agreed with Pat Kenny that the gas extracted would be sold at market prices to the highest bidder.
We could be in a perverse situation of allowing foreign corporations to put at risk our environment so that they can extract the gas and sell it on the open market to other European countries. Mr Moorman attempted to pull the wool over the eyes of Pat Kennys listeners with the adage that the gas will be transported to that European market in Bord Gais pipelines, implying some sort of ownership of the gas by Bord Gais. Lets be very clear about this. Tamboran have complete ownership of all gas they intend extracting from Leitrim and surrounding counties. All Bord Gais will get is transit fees for the gas in the pipeline. All the Irish Goverment will get is tax on the profits of Tamboran, as well as any benefits created by the 200 or so jobs the project will create over 20 years. (we should all be aware by now how easy it is for multinational companies to set up tax avoidance schemes, reducing the benefit to our exchequer). Estimates by Tamboran themselves say the gas reserves exceed 100 billion euros at todays prices and the project is worth 6 billion to the exchequer over 20 years. So, 6 % is our cut…? over 20 years ….!
When you compare what is at stake should anything go wrong environmentally, it seems we will pay a very high price for little benefit to the nation.
This project WILL NOT MAKE GAS CHEAPER here in Ireland. We will pay market price for it… We don’t own it, they, Tamboran and other mineral prospectors do (We can thank Sean Lemass for that as his was the signature that naively sold the mineral rights to our lands in the 1950’s for 250,000 punts). However until they come up with a safe way of extracting the gas, we don’t have to honour those minerals rights. So why are we even considering putting our environment and assocciated established industries of tourism & farming at stake …? Both of those industries are worth 6 billion a year
To those of you who want to wait and see what the EPA say on the matter before forming an opinion ,without wanting to disrespect the epa, all they will be asked to do is come up with recommendations to make the threat of environmental destruction less likely. Regardless of what they say, there is no way of safeguarding a project as large as this especially when you are interacting with forces of nature…
We should be acting now to stop this juggernaut gaining speed and rolling into the glens of North Leitrim

And our EPA said they were going to consult with the University of Aberdeen to learn about fracking and its effects…

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/archive-details-8754.php

Possible chance for corporate corruption??

Nearly 4,000 signatures at the moment please sign to Ban Hydraulic Fracturing for natural gas in Ireland
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-hydraulic-fracturing-for-natural-gas-in-ireland.html

It is beyond doubt that hydraulic fracturing causes pollution and earthquakes my family in New Zealand have suffered great loss due to earhquakes which are now being blamed on fracking and a study is being undertaken there, Family in Australia had their water supply contamibnated and the gas company involved had their operations shut down, Those who say they can frack using only sand and water omit to mention they will also use chemicals used in the food industry which are known carcinogens and that the silicon sand is also a known carcinogen also this method has never been used anywhere in the world, Drilling is proposed on a major fault line using a method known to cause earthquakes ( as proven in Blackpool UK) and close to the source of the river Shannon and risks the contamination of the water supply and beautiful areas from Leitrim to Limerick If vast continents like Australia and America are experiencing pollution problems due to this devestating process think what it will do to this beautiful little country so unique on earth, and for what very few jobs if any and no financial reward or lower fuel prices for the Irish people. I know first hand that this process causes problems have seen with my own eyes for Gods Sake dont let it happen here it is madness driven by the greed of foreigners who will rape this beautiful land.

It would seem that most any place that has allowed ‘fraking’ then turned around and tried to ban it. Ooops too late.
They’ve got earthquakes and poisoned water – let ‘em eat and drink the dollars/euros.

Because the gas gets mixed into the local water supplies making tap water undrinkable. Also planned for meelin rockchapel Newmarket area in north cork. Watch Gaslands on YouTube. The fishing clubs on the Feale and Blackwater would want to get political.

1. Everywhere fracking has gone into effect, it has had negative if not disastrous effects on the environment;
for instance, it is not considered that the entire water supplies to Philadelphia and New York cities will be
endangered if a ban does not go into effect.
2. The environment that Ireland has going for it is becoming more and more a rarity. Its value is beyond words,
and the decisions made today will impoverish future generations of Irish people permanently. Not to mention
“precedent”.
3. No one has mentioned this. But once a precedent is set that the tourism, agriculture and their related
industries are no longer important in Ireland, or that the environment is compromised, where will our argument
go that we want to save it? Once it’s gone, it’s gone. And our vision of a clean environment will be foreign to
our children, who will no longer remember a clean environment. From an ecological AND legal standpoint, we
will lose our power to even argue the point. And last, but not least…
4. How much do YOU trust our government to protect us? They did a great job on the banks, the golden
handshakes to corrupt departing CEOs, broken promises on health care, etc. I can’t help wondering who got
a brown envelope to let this go through. Maybe, maybe not, but I wonder. Where’s the investigative reporter
with the courage to really go after that possible story?

Its absolutely shocking that so many people are in favour of fracking. I can only assume that the people who voted “yes” are not fully informed about the facts of fracking. I would urge everybody to inform themselves and watch the documentary “Gaslands”. I can assure you that after watching “Gaslands” all rational people will vote “NO” to fracking.

Fermangh council had a majority vote last nite against, Roscommon co.council voted for a ban two months ago,Leitrim voted for a moratorum (5yr ban) before christmas, Donegal/Cavan and Sligo are in the process of doing the same, Antrim councils have too called for a ban, it was also voted down in the Northern Ireland assembly recently.
Will this and the fact most countries in the world are now looking for a ban or have a moritarium in place or like France a total ban in place change anything in ireland?? We as a country are im afraid to say brainwashed into functional stupidity, we have been takin over by coporations a log time ago, with regards of gas and oil production rather than clean agriculture which i might add has gone through the roof in the last two years because of global climate change, are at a crossroads in regards to Irelands future health and well been. Looking at the sick comments been made about our neighbours in mayo who have had to live through Hell because of one murdering coporation called Shell, well dont worry to those who snigger and have no truthful education on their plight, to call any human who helps in their struggle as a RENT A MOB further degrading their protest, you are in the same boat but you just cant see it and you too will be persecuted in dear olde Ireland. Back to the fracking issue ask Dick Roche or better still educate your selves on how OIL AND GAS companies can do whatever they wish, we are talking about twelve counties in the republic and half of northern ireland could possibly be affected not to mention talk of water from the shannon been pumped to Dublin “frack water” .
We are not a small village and we will not be bullied by Ignoramus Irish in any shape or form, the parties against this are all but one guess which one i give you a clue Mayo, thats right FG no surprises there in regards oil or gas!!!! spend 2 hrs on the net and you will get the global message about fracking the world cant all be wrong about this toxic hazardous process or can they???

Fracking Map of Ireland
http://what-the-frack.org/fracking-map-of-ireland/

By doing a general google search of fracking you will undoubtedly be exposed to the typical scaremongering, selective quoting, misinformation and general twaddle you usually find on the internet. Try a general google search for something like “evidence for extraterrestrial life” and tell me how much of the web pages you read that you actually believe. Type what you want on the net and someone will believe it. Try refining your searches by using “google scholar” or a web page like “sciencedirect” and read the genuine scientific peer-reviewed publications on fracking. Fracking is “potentially” an excellent exploration method for Ireland (where our natural resources are limited). This decision should be taken after thorough research, not just because of things people have heard on the internet grapevine. (a good example is the videos of natural gas coming out of peoples kitchen taps as a result of near-by fracking, these videos were proven to be fakes made by anti-fracking activists).

say NO now before it is too late. there is already so much evidence around the world that Coal Seam Gas mining and fracking are destructive to land use and to water sources. and remember that it is also just another fossil fuel in finite supply (just like coal and petroleum) so if we pursue this so-called ‘ clean’ (it is NOT clean or green!) energy source, then we are just digging ourselves another great dirty big hole to fall in to. our efforts and resources should not be wasted and diverted to dead-end projects like CSG (which only offer very short term benefits, and most of the revenue goes to multinational companies anyway with little real financial gain for the people and govts whose land has been exploited), but instead we should focus all our attention on developing and implementing true clean green renewable energy industries right NOW!

All about Fracking:
http://skeptoid.com/episode.php?id=4275

@Alan the Gulf spill in truth came from a Practice that should not have and should never be undertaken i.e. Extremely High Risk Deep water drilling for a biotic oil

http://rt.com/usa/news/fracking-ohio-quake-earth-165/

“Ohio lawmakers have put a temporary ban on fracking after experts say it is certain that recent fracking in the Buckeye State caused an outbreak of earthquakes.”

http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/fracking-across-the-united-states

Have a look there to see what fracking has done to places in America. I hope Ireland will not share the same fate.

Just watch this if you want to see what fracking could do

Upper Green River Valley after Fracking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n992EofYEX4&eurl

Mr. Quinn needs to watch his language – I seem to remember that ppl opposed to banking misconduct were called ‘unpatriotic’ at the time too . . it’s too late to find out just how wrong thing are, after its done.
Do we really trust large corporations/governments to tell us the truth – look how long it took tobacco companies to admit the risks to health.
Ireland’s water supply is too central to contaminate. Wake up and smell the benzine . . .

Wow, there are so many experts on fracking posting here. An informed decision should be easy.

Fracking companies need to look at the Corrib field before they invest, 15 years trying to get gas ashore thanks to the looney protestors.

The same applies to renewable energy companies in Ireland. There will be objections and protests to electricity pylons, wind turbines, and any other means of energy production and distribution.

There is one exception, dig up the turf boss!

Great news about yesterday’s announcemment that Clare Council are banning fracking

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0110/1224310052415.html

Despite it’s flaws, the Gasland Movie is a great way to raise awareness around the issue in your community. Local anti-fracking groups have made significant impact already. Here’s where you can organise screenings:

http://popupcinema.net/films/gasland

Poland’s Internal Security Agency (Agencja Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego or ABW) has detained seven individuals in connection with alleged corruption in the awarding of shale gas licenses.

http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/poland-shale-gas-corruption?utm_source=Natura

@Eddie Dempsey I did read the question and I still cannot believe that so many people voted no to banning fracking. Lets not be too hasty before going all hysterical and negative.

frack away .we fracked anyway .

Precautionary principle should apply until the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed. Wait for the EPA report. Btw I pity the guy whose desk that job landed on: he/she is going to be in for some abuse by all the loonies out there…

NO NO NO

Fracking is going on at this very moment right under your noses and you don’t even know this, I am surprised, it has been going on since the start of Rossport in co mayo from 20005 onwards, why do you think that a lot of people in the country side are actually a much higher cancer rate ever since 2007, 300 thousand people from the country have died of aggressive skin cancer, bowel cancer, and lung cancer, and about 60 per cent of those people were none smokers and the other 40 percent smokers.
Wake up guys this is a true fact, you need to do your research it’s a fact, the shell company and the Irish government including Bertie Ahern & Eamon Ryan and John Gormley and other FF 7 FG member and the green party were all involved and it is still going on, get the film the pipe and you will see how they tried to put pipes down in to an ocean and the people had fought and how the garda brutality beat the people down in a peaceful protest no trouble from the mayo people only the garda and the shell security company enforced their own law by bully tactic and beat on anyone who dare say a word to shell or ask a question
Miss Ireland

Most of the anti-fracking comments above, as usual, are greatly exaggerated.

What’s the definition of an “earthquake”? An earthquake of magnitude of less than 2, which is as much as we can expect (very rarely) from fracking, is extremely trivial. There are over a million per year like this. 5 just about might cause some damage, 2 has about 30,000 times less energy. It’s like comparing a fart to a hand grenade! The very rare earthquakes that might result in Ireland will be completely irrelevant.

The pollution is also trivial. About the only issues are the ugly buildings, yards, tanks and well heads but that’s a small price to pay for our energy.

Furthermore burning gas is far less damaging to the environment than imported coal or oil. Burning coal releases Uranium, Radon, sulphur, particulates, soot etc, burning gas doesn’t. It’s amazing that people are calling for gas wells to be banned who obviously haven’t read any scientific analysis of it whatsoever.

This is why we have a parliamentary democracy. Most of the people are fools most of the time to misquote Mr Lincoln.

But how?

I don’t know much about fracking. Ask me anything about building supplies newmarket but when it comes to fracking I don’t think I fully understand what it means. Overall I get the vibe that most people don’t see it in a positive light. Thus I think that they probably should ban it in Ireland. I will have to do more research though.

Sorry, correct on point 1 above: It is NOW considered that water will be compromised …

I’m surprised TheJournal.ie has no link to this page http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303936704576398462932810874.html

Fracking when done right is good and we need it.

If you all say no… You negate the ability to complain about your rising energy bill. You must be prepared to pay for the consequences of such a stance.

As I understand it, fracking in Ireland would not be as deep as in North America and the nature of the rock here would only require water at 30 pbi and no chemicals. If that is true then why not?

If there is so much damage how come it’s all undocumented? All the negativity is not backed by the scientific evidence.

Fracking is a fantastic technology the U.S. is now independent of gas imports because of it.
Oh and it has nothing to do with earthquakes pleasr stop telling lies.

Frack on, sure why dont we just ask all multinationals to leave the country and go back to the De Valera era of dancing at the crossroads and being self sufficient ie, not having a pot to p##s in.

If it is likely to create a lot if jibs and contribute to reducing energy costs, I am sure the Corrib mob will mobilises against it.

“my family in New Zealand”

“for Gods Sake dont let it happen here it is madness driven by the greed of foreigners ”

You sound like a foreigner yourself Mrs Yappa. We need this resource as we are importing 97% of our gas.
We also need the revenue to pay off our debts and we ned the jobs. We are a progressive people if you don’t mind we would like to progress. Cheers.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/01/11/dallas-earthquake-not-caused-by-fracking-and-neither-was-the-ohio-quake/

“Gasland” has been thoroughly rubbished. If you are against fracking you have to quote something more reliable. I am still doing research and am still open minded on fracking, but know for sure we should waste no more time, money or any other resources on useless industrial wind turbines.