Ireland made history joining France, Germany and Bulgaria to ban onshore fracking. On Wednesday, the Irish Senate “passed legislature” to “outlaw the controversial drilling technique,” Common Dreams reported.
The bill was introduced by a private member last year. Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin, who is not part of the Irish government, introduced the bill because he believed fracking needed to be “seen as a serious public health and environmental concern for Ireland.”
“Its done!, McLoughlin said in a tweet. “We’ve made history and become the 3rd state in the EU to ban #Fracking. One of proudest moments in my political career. Thanks to all.”
In a statement, McLoughlin explained the impact of fracking on the world:
This law will mean communities in the West and North West of Ireland will be safeguarded from the negative effects of hydraulic fracking. Counties such as Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Clare will no longer face negative effects like those seen in cities and towns in the United States, where many areas have now decided to implement similar bans to the one before us.
If fracking was allowed to take place in Ireland and Northern Ireland it would pose significant threats to the air, water and the health and safety of individuals and communities here.
Fracking must be seen as a serious public health and environmental concern for Ireland.
The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016 passed Ireland’s Parliament in May and is now in the hands of the Ireland’s president, Michael D. Higgins, who is expected to sign it into law.
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