Ireland not for Shale - Tóibín
Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD and Fermanagh South Tyrone representative Cllr Denise Mullen have met with Anti Fracking Campaigners in Belcoo in County Fermanagh. Our delegation heard about the real fears and concerns of the people of Fermanagh with regards the impending danger of Fracking in the border county.
Peadar Tóibín stated:
“Fracking is a phenomenally dangerous process. It does enormous damage to the climate, to the environment and to the people living in the area. For this reason it was banned out right in the south of Ireland. The continued issuing of mineral exploration licensees in the north of Ireland despite the fact that Stormont is mothballed for over two years is wrong.”
Cllr Mullen stated:
“Vast tracts of land in our counties are being prospected for their mineral wealth. Large multinational fossil fuel companies are seeking to frack shale gas from some rural communities. £20bn in shale gas is said to lie in the ground under Fermanagh alone.
“Firstly, very little, if any, real consultation is happening with the communities that live, farm and work in these areas. There are significant fears with regards the possible health and safety threats that will arise with the extraction and exploitation of these resources. People are naturally worried that homes, farms and businesses will lose significant value or become worthless if these projects go ahead.
“Most of these projects consist of large multinational investment firms parachuting into communities and leaving little in terms of real jobs or income in their wake. The royalties from these proposed projects will be paid to London and will have no effecting on the welfare of local communities.
“Aontú supports communities and campaigns who are fighting to protect their families. We oppose fracking 100%. We are deeply frustrated that Sinn Féin and the SDLP are sitting on their hands on this issue.”
