Ireland

Political situation

Ireland is a parliamentary democracy with a president. The current government is a coalition government between the centre-right Fine Gael and the Labour Party. On the whole the government is completely preoccupied with the economy and meeting its commitments under the EU-IMF bailout program.
Governments position– political parties – individual politicians:

• The Government does not appear to have an official position on hydraulic fracturing in Ireland
• The Government is awaiting the outcome of the EPA report, which has yet to be commissioned.
• Sinn Féin and the Socialist party are opposed to fracking
• A few individual politicians (Councilors/TD’s/MEP’s) from Fianna Fáil, Independent, are opposed to fracking
• The counties in the licensed area VOTED for a ban or a moratorium (NOT implemented) -> Ban: Counties Clare, Roscommon, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan. Moratorium: Co. Leitrim (Between Nov 2011 and Jan 2012)
• Three Counties (Co. Clare, Co. Sligo and Co. Donegal) voted to amend their development plans. None of these motions have been implemented yet.
• NI Assembly voted for a moratorium (August 2011)

Option licenses issued to:

• Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd 1 Australian Company
• North West Carboniferous Basin
• 986 sq km
• License period (1 March 2011 – 28 Feb. 2013)
• LANGCO ltd – (Lough Allen National Gas Company, Irish Company)
• North West Carboniferous Basin
• 467 sq km
• License period (1 March 2011 – 28 Feb. 2013)
• Enegi Oil plc UK Company
• Clare Basin
• 495 sq km
• License period (1 March 2011 – 28 Feb. 2013)

Remarks: All companies held an option license valid for 24 months.

Ireland’s give away:

The Government receives 25% of royalty only on net profits. Set-up and operational costs are tax deductible. It is estimated that the royalties after the deductions will be 7% (source Shell to Sea).

Shale Gas activities

Active Companies – option licenses:

• Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd: Australian Company active in Co. Fermanagh (NI), Co.Leitrim, Co. Sligo and Co.Cavan
• Enegi Oil plc: UK company, active in Co. Clare

Amount of know resources:

• North West Carboniferous:
• Value: Source Tamboran: (the data are questionable, they are very old)
  -> 4.4 trillion cubic feet NI and ROI together
  -> 2.2 trillion cubic feet in NI and 2.2 trillion cubic feet in ROI
• Source: Irish Times -> Shale gas worth $ 55 bn, this should be $ 5.5 bn.
• Source: Independent.ie -> Shale gas value of € 7 bn
• Clare Basin
• Coverage: 495 sq km = 122.317 acres
• Wells: 12 were drilled between 1960 and 2000
• Co. Leitrim: Thur Mountain, MacNean, Dowra, Drumkeeran
• Co. Clare: Doonbeg, drilled to a depth of 3353 m. Organic garbon from 792 –1052 m. Organic rich potential hot shale 150 m thick (Source: Enegi Oil website)
• Level op development of SG industry
• Tamboran and Enegi Oil: field studies and desktop studies.

Note:

• Tamboran recently gave € 20.000 to the Manorhamilton Business Forum
• Various SAC (Special Area of Conservation) are close to the proposed fracking areas.

Level of mobilisation

Number of groups:

• We have groups, networks and individuals. From Belfast to Cork.
• NI – approx. 3, ROI – approx. 20
• No Fracking Ireland facebook and Fracking Ireland google groups
• Environmental Pillar: An association of a number (27) of environmental groups working together. They have a policy on shale gas, shale oil, coal bed methane and fracking
  What we have done so far:
• raising awareness: public meetings, handing out leaflets etc
• guest speakers invited
• family days organised
• letters to politicians, submissions written
• poster, logos designed
• grass root gathering
• guaranteed fracking free campaign launched:
  ’to celebrate and promote Ireland’s present fracking-free status.
  Ireland’s clean environment and “green” image are priceless assets for Irish businesses, especially in the tourism and agri-food sectors. We are proud of the Irish beef, baby formula, heritage, unspoiled landscape. Our beef is ‘free range’!

What do we have achieved? – What has to be done?

• We have succeeded in raising awareness in the North West in the option licensed area’s and the majority of the people is against it.
• Tamboran’s CEO Richard Moorman recently stepped down
• Tamboran had to put on hold plans to hire at least 10 people in Leitrim this year as it awaits the Government latest report (EPA, not commissioned yet)
• The people in Dublin need to know that fracking could affect them.
• The risk of contamination of the Shannon and Dublin’s drinking water (in future) is important. Also the reputation of the country and its effects on tourism and agri-business (Irish beef and infant formula).
• Raising awareness by presentations in the wider area: Sligo South, Clare, Dublin, Athlone, Castlebar

Update on activities in the nearby future:

Presentations in the wider area: Sligo South, Clare, Dublin, Athlone, Castlebar

Planning:

• Seminar “Beyond Fossil Fuels – a coming reality or prevented by ‘transition’ energy sources?”
  Raising awareness of climate change – Informing people about sustainable energy sources – Examining so-called “transition fuels – Making recommendations for practical measures for communities to reduce their carbon footprint.
• International guests speaker in early March