Earthquakes and poisoning of the water table, great news they are not allowing it.

If the fracking goes ahead then Ireland will benefit from being able to buy the gas at international prices. As in, for all the risk to our countryside and the environment, we won’t benefit at all.
Have a look at the “Gaslands” documentary.
Then answer this:
- If you were living in an area that would be affected by fracking, would you really want to risk it?
- If you weren’t living in an area that would be affected by fracking, would you force others to take that risk?

Great news. I’ve heard Roscommon Co council are also banning it. Let’s hope Sligo and Leitrim follow as well and stop the fracking that companies are looking to start in those areas. Any possible so called ‘economic benefits’ far out weigh the dangers associated. Would be great to see a country wide ban but I fear the government as always will side with the big rich corporations ahead of the people of Ireland.

Some people who approve of fracking seem to think that those of us who oppose it have done no research, are nimbys, have reacted with “blind rage” etc. and are ignoring huge economic benefits. All these accusations are untrue and patronising.
If you have really done research on fracking you will come across communities with serious health issues including lung damage, places where livestock have died from drinking toxic backflow water, townspeople who can no longer drink the local water (Dimmock), places where people can no longer carry on sustainable farming – the list goes on and on.
Environmental destruction is never economically viable.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-hydraulic-fracturing-for-natural-gas-in-ireland/sign.html

Of course, if we copied how the Dutch are doing things we’d be having an intelligent debate and getting sensible regulations and safe fracking.

Here, however, we won’t do that and are likely to cut off our noses to spite our faces.

So our water could be poisoned; yet we,ve to pay for it

Our homes could blow up; yet we,ll be paying for that also

Our beautiful country will be ripped to shreds once more, the citizens of Ireland will get sicker

Yet our government will pocket the proceeds!!

Hmmm where,s he fairness and equality??

http://www.change.org/petitions/supporting-the-irish-nation-step-down-from-government

Many people mention the effects of fracking on water, but one of the more serious and commonplace impacts is degradation of air quality.

We have quite a few studies highlighting these risks.

Here are a few for starters:
1. A study by the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Health showed that people living within a half-mile of oil- and gas-well fracking operations were exposed to air pollutants five times above a federal hazard standard.

2. A study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) found Emissions from oil and natural gas operations account for more than half of the pollutants – such as propane and – that contribute to ozone formation in Erie, Colorado.

3. A study in the journal Human and Ecological Risk Assessment showed more than 50 NMHCs were found near gas wells in rural Colorado, including 35 that affect the brain and nervous system. Some were detected at levels high enough to potentially harm children who are exposed to them before birth.

Given that the industry has shown itself incapable of mitigating these risks in the US, what makes you think it will be any different here?

Oh, and the ex-Coloradan oil and gas regulation director David Neslin, who I’ve met, claims that Colorado has the best regulations in the US! If this is what best practice looks like, why our government would even contemplate granting licences to such an industry is beyond belief really.

Luddites. A decision based on no debate, no discussions.

There’s an EPA report out “soon” looking at fracking in an Irish context. Should be a good read in relation to this issue. Mind you being public servants, soon could be another year. Must be nice not to have deadlines…

Clare, Roscommon and possibly Sligo and Leitrim. I have an idea, let these counties raise and spend their own tax revenue with no assistance from other counties.

How the f**k can anyone ban something without a full examination of the issue? How many councillors have talked to fracking companies? None, I’d bet.
How many have visited towns where this practice is allowed? Again, none.