‘Victory’: Irish Lawmakers Ban Fracking

It’s “a day for #ClimatePride,” says Friends of the Earth Ireland after historic vote

by Andrea Germanos
Published in www.commondreams.org

Ireland is poised to ban onshore fracking after its Senate on Wednesday passed a bill outlawing the oil and gas extraction method.

Anti-fracking campaigning group Love Leitrim celebrated the development as a “victory for people power.”

It now awaits the president’s signature to become law, as it already passed the lower house of parliament in May. The Irish Independent writes: “President Michael D Higgins is expected to sign it into law in the coming days with a date to be confirmed for the commencement of the ban.”

The bill was brought forth by Sligo-Leitrim Dáil member Tony McLoughlin, who called its passage one of the “proudest moments” of his political career.

In a statement, McLoughlin alluded to impacts cities in the U.S. have felt as a result of fracking.

“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.”

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“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,” he said.

“Fracking must be seen as a serious public health and environmental concern for Ireland,” he added.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth Ireland also welcomed the move, writing on Twitter that it’s a “day to celebrate. A day for #ClimatePride.”

“Here’s to a #FossilFree future,” the group wrote.