Sinn Fein Meeting on Fracking - Drumshanbo 15/5/2014

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• published: 19 May 2014
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This was a SF organised public meeting on fracking, majority of attendees were SF members/supporters. Speakers Michael Colreavey T.D. & Phil Flanagan MLA spokespeople on this issue for SF. Sinn Fein passed a motion calling for a ban on unconventional fossil fuel extraction (fracking) in both NI and ROI at their Ard Fhéis in 2012. Vice President of SF, Mary Lou McDonald came to Leitrim a few weeks ago to launch SF's EU and local candidates for the upcoming election. At that meeting of approx 200 SF members, no sitting public representative or candidate mentioned fracking. Politicians in NI and in ROI and it's mainstream media continue to try and represent fracking as a distant issue that is only relevant to the people of Fermanagh and Leitrim. Initial licenses given out for unconventional oil/gas extraction cover vast areas of 12 counties throughout the island of Ireland. There are shale gas deposits all over this island. Even if this industry was to be confined to Leitrim, Fermanagh and Antrim (which it will not) the damaging, irreversible effects on health, environment, farming, tourism, The Shannon Basin etc..will be felt throughout the island. When speaking to the media ie. RTE/BBC NI about serious issues facing this country SF do not include fracking. To date SF have done little on the issue in NI. The anti-fracking campaign on this island believe the industry will first commence in NI. Presently the U.K government are trying to push ahead with this industry by allowing exploratory work/test drills to take place despite huge public opposition. Further info here - http://frack-off.org.uk/ SF have said little or nothing about Rathlin Energy's plans for drilling in Antrim and Derry. To date, as far as we are aware they have made no official objections to Rathlin Energy's planning application nor have they voiced any concern about it. Details on Rathlin Energy here - http://notofracking.com/ and here http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2014/05/516713.html There doesn't seem to be any concern either over InfraStrata PLC - "A petroleum exploration and gas storage company has written to Carrick Council over plans to drill a well at a site in Woodburn Forest." East Antrim - "InfraStrata plans to commence construction of the wellsite in September 2014," - http://www.carrickfergustimes.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-to-drill-exploration-well-in-woodburn-forest-1-5989740 SF recently refused to sign a petition of concern organised by Green Party MLA Steven Agnew which could have stalled the decision made by Arlene Foster, to grant an extension to Tamboran's liceonse in Fermanagh. Further info here - http://www.greenpartyni.org/green-mla-disappointed-parties-did-not-sign-petition-to-force-fracking-on-to-executive-agenda/ SF refused to attend a public debate more info here - http://votedonalocofaigh.nationbuilder.com/sinn_f_in_refuse_to_debate_fracking This industry wants to start here through ground work ie. exploratory/test drilling, successful planning applications etc...Communities are fighting to ensure this will not happen. It appears that SF has decided not to oppose the industry at this point. This makes no sense to campaigners, if you oppose this industry you obviously oppose it at every level not after they have set-up and have put infrastructure in place. Email re extension to Tamboran from Mitchel McLaughlin SF, Principal Deputy Speaker - Northern Ireland Assembly "A chara, Re: Extension of Petroleum Exploration Licence PL2/10 Thank you for your recent letter regarding the decision by Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster to extend Petroleum Exploration Licenses here from March 31st 2014 to September 30th 2014. Sinn Féin opposes hydraulic fracturing and shares your concerns about the potential damage it could pose to the environment. At our most recent Ard Fheis Sinn Féin delegates passed a motion in opposition to fracking and pledged our full support to the communities who are opposed to this unsafe process. The licence granted is for purposes of exploration under the terms of the Petroleum (Production ) Act 1964 and permits the licencee to search and bore for and get petroleum.. The Minister does not require Executive agreement for these applications. In respect of any subsequent application for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) given the cross cutting, non conventional and significant nature of this matter, it is our view that any application for fracking to take place in the north will be required to come before the Executive. Sinn Féin will oppose any application at the Executive to carry out hydraulic fracturing on the island of Ireland in accordance with our party policy. Mitchel McLaughlin MLA" It seems that the only way SF will actually do anything on this issue is if we the people hold them to account and force them to take real steps towards stopping this industry. For further info on campaign - http://frackingfreeireland.org/ Find Facebook groups here -