Group claim company wants to practice 'fracking' in Clare

on 13/01/2013 10:14:47

The controversial drilling technique known as "fracking" may be on its way to County Clare with disastrous consequences for local habitats, according to Clare Fracking Concerned.

The group says the gas and oil company Enegi is interested in extracting shale gas from the West Clare area.

Fracking, which came under the spotlight during Co Mayo's Shell to Sea protests, involves the extraction of oil or other materials from the sea bed by fracturing the surface and pumping out what's underneath.

Susan Griffin of Clare Fracking Concerned says the full effects of fracking are not yet known.

Ms Griffin said: "The local people and local government, and of course the national government, have a responsibility to look into this as it is quite a novel procedure in Ireland and on a world scale as well.

"We have very few guartantees that this is a safe process and until that can be proven, I don't think this is something which can go ahead, we should be very, very careful of that."