'We've Made History': Ireland Joins France, Germany and Bulgaria in Banning Fracking

Well done to yet another country who loves their land and people. Ireland is on the cusp of banning onshore fracking- this week its Senate passed legislation outlawing the controversial drilling technique. All that’s left is for the Irish President, Michael D Higgins, to sign the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016 (Bill Number 37 of 2016). It’s expected he will sign the bill into law “in the coming days.”¹

(This video is from 2014 but it gives you an idea about how people have always felt about this dangerous practice. Again we say to Ireland’s politicians- well done.)

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Three other European Union member states, France, Germany, and Bulgaria, have already banned the practice on land.

The bill, which was introduced last year by Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin, passed Ireland’s Parliament in May. After the vote, McLoughlin tweeted ‘We’ve made history,” and then called it one of the “proudest moments in my political career.”¹

He went on to say:

“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.” note]Eco Watch, June 29, 2017.[/note]

He’s not wrong. Fracking has done enormous amounts of damage to our environment here in the states, but here, money always wins.

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However, even one voice can make enough noise to be heard. And there are so many more of us than just one. Keep speaking up and out. For us, for our world, and for our children.