A Sligo/Leitrim TD’s bill to ban fracking will be debated in the Dail today.
But this does not mean the controversial gas extraction method will be outlawed any time soon.
That’s because the government has proposed an amendment which will mean the passage of Fine Gael Deputy Tony McLoughlin’s bill will be paused until what’s known as the Committee Stage after June next year.
Deputy McLoughlin says he believes this is in order as it will allow due process take place with the research process of the Environmental Protection Agency and allow the department consider its findings.
The Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Environment will also be considering the bill from next week.
Deputy McLoughlin has been telling Ocean FM why he has brought the Bill:
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein Sligo/Leitrim TD Martin Kenny has questioned if Fine Gael is, in fact, in favour of banning fracking.
He has raised the question following a government amendment to the Bill by Deputy McLoughlin.
The amendment will have the effect of stopping it until next June.
It’s that delay that has led to questions from Deputy Kenny:
