Glór to host panel discussion on fracking

NUI Galway hydro-geologist Tiernan Henry is to speak on the possible dangers of hydraulic fracturing at a public event at Glor, Ennis, on Sunday at 7pm. This will be followed by a  panel discussion, which will be chaired by Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent with The Irish Times. There will be a chance for full audience participation in a questions and answers session.
Clare Fracking Concerned spokesperson Róisín Ní Gháirbhith said even though the entire chamber of Clare County Council has voting against fracking, this did not effectively prohibit it.
“Local government just does not have that power. Secondly, anyone who becomes informed of the controversial method of fracking knows it would be a negative undertaking to let it happen in Clare and the other areas of the West of Ireland where it is being proposed,” she claimed.
Róisín added that the event is being held to keep support alive on the issue.
“It is important that people who are genuinely concerned about  the threat of fracking attend this event. We need to keep this issue on our local politicians’ agenda and they need to know that we the people do not, under any circumstances, want this in our county or indeed Ireland,” she said.
Fracking involves using a pressurised cocktail of water, sand and chemicals to release methane gas from shale rock and has caused environmental pollution in the US.
“We have invited representatives from every sector of society, including farmers, politicians, tourism operators, business people, hoteliers, publicans, geologists, as well as Enegi Oil, the company which is interested in fracking in Clare, to take part in a panel discussion,” Róisín revealed.
Enegi Oil has a licence for a 500km2 area known as the Clare Basin, which covers a large part of West Clare, as well as parts of Kerry and Limerick. The company has stated “the Clare Basin area has great potential” and that it is “a new, exciting lead”. Enegi is currently proceeding with phase two of its exploration process, taking more detailed samples of what it describes as “an organically rich source rock that may contain shale gas”. It can then proceed to apply for a drilling licence.