Love Leitrim campaigners are welcoming the passing to committee stage of an anti-fracking bill put forward in the Dail yesterday.
The bill put forward by Sligo Leitrim Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin calls for the ‘prohibition of the exploration and extraction of petroleum from shale rock, tight sands and coal seams’ in Ireland and its internal waters.
The first phase reports of an EPA report into fracking are due at the end of the year.
However, the EPA has confirmed to Ocean FM News today that the second phase of that study which analyses the seismic activity and its impact on water resources remains suspended at the request of the Department.
The 11 reports as part of phase one are due to be published before the end of this year.
In the Dail yesterday, all parties supported the bill by Tony McLoughlin.
Eddie Mitchell of the Love Leitrim anti-fracking campaign is welcoming yesterday’s progress as a victory for their long-standing campaign:
