UTV this issue needs to be investigated and reported in depth. I would suggest if you want to find where company spin ends and truth starts you could do much worse than ask michael mcevoy, charlie esterfield or tom white for their contribution to any future story

I would just like to quote from an open letter sent by a selection of US scientists to A. Foster and the DETI. It can be summed up in a few words. THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE. On the 6th DEC. 2011 the MLAs at Stormont voted for that principle to be upheld and despite all this controversy it is not being upheld."Additionally, radioactive and other volatile organic compounds are released from the shale during the fracturing process. Drill cuttings and flowback wastewater are contaminated by these naturally radioactive substances and carcinogenic metals such as arsenic, chromium, beruene,uranium, radon, and radium. There is a significant chance of human exposure to chemical carcinogens during the storage, treatnent, and disposal of contaminated wastewater. Furthermore, carcinogens can also pollute drinking water and affect air quality. Researchers in Colorado, using US EPA risk assessment tools to look at carcinogenic effects of air.qualrty at oil and gai sites, found excess cancer risks from air pollution alone (from 5 to 58 additional cancers per million). A recent EPA study in Pavillion, WY confirmed the presence of the carcinogen2- butoxyethanol, a widely used fracking chemical, in th'e aquifer under the intensively drilled community. An ambient air quality analysis in Dish, TX confirmed the presence of multiple recognized human carcinogens in fugitive air emissions. These identified compounds are commonly known to emerge from natural gas industrial processes such as drilling, flaring, and compression Additionally, preliminary evidence in Texas points to high cancer rates in intensively drilled areas. Cancer is just one of many health problems associated with unconventional natural gas extraction. While the evidence is not yet conclusive, it does give probable cause for creating a moratorium on the process until the science is conducted. In other words, we believe the science should come before the policy. The question of proof surfaces time and time again and while the issues have changed from lead paint to tobacco to asbestos, the underlying issue remains the same: science takes time. This does not, however, mean that its absence should enable risky practices. In the absence of reliable science, particularly that addressing the significant public health concerns of practices like high volume hydraulic fractuing, policies should be both precautionary and preventative in nature. Otherwise, we put our citizens in the unacceptable-role of being placed, as PSE affiliate Michelle Bamberger puts it, in an'lrncontrolledhealth experiment on an enonnous scale". Dr. Madelon Finkel and I highlighted the need for precaution in a peer reviewed paper published in the American Journal for Public Health"

Has Climate Change completely ceased to be an issue worth discussing for UTV?

It's good that you are starting to take this issue seriously. Thank you for reporting on it. 1.There are 3 other DETI licence areas for shale gas exploration. The licence granted to Rathlin Energy takes in the entire North Coast from Limavady to Ballycastle and stretches well inland. Rathlin energy have not ruled out the use of fracking, when asked by local campaign groups and the Londonderry Sentinel! Fermanagh is not the only area in danger. The other licences take in all of Islandmagee in S.Antrim and extend west to Lough Neagh taking in Ballyclare and Antrim town. A fourth licence has been granted for Rathlin Island itself. 2.Jobs: At the most optimistic end of the scale this industry may create 600 jobs over 50 years. Many of these will be highly technical and the local community will not benefit greatly from new employment. The Green new deal on the other hand can create up to 30,000 jobs very quickly and has the support of the CBI, Ulster farmers Union and the majority of our politicians, however it is held up in the machinery of government. 3. NO CHEMICALS: Tamboran claim they will not use chemicals in the 'fracking process'. Firstly this has never been done anywhere else in the entire world. N.I would be the global fracking guinea pig. They will however use chemicals in the drilling process. Also the majority of the millions of gallons of clean water that is pumped into the ground will return to earth. It will have picked up heavy metals and radioactive material that naturally occurs Km's under the earth's surface. This is a witches brew containing known carcinogens such as Benzene and Ethyl benzene. What is the process for dealing with this radioactive waste? Accidents happen, spillages occur, human error cannot be helped. Should this toxic witches brew enter our soil or waterways- DISASTER. One beef herd or one dairy herd affected and we can kiss goodbye to our agricultural industry. Remember foot and mouth? China still does not allow E.U beef to be imported. We stand to face a net loss of jobs in N.I if this fracking industry goes ahead. 4. Positive alternatives Already mentioned is the green new deal. However we are the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy. We have the opportunity to be world leaders. We already have led the world in developing tidal energy technology in N.I. This is a positive way to create clean green energy and thousands of jobs. Let's be ambitious...Scotland intend to generate all its electricity from renewable sources by 2020! We can also do this! 5. The industry in the USA raced ahead of the scientific research as it is immune from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. We need to wait a few years and take in all the peer reviewed scientific research currently being undertaken around the world. Then we can make informed decisions. If we frack now we stand to ruin our health, our environment and our indigenous industries such as tourism and and agriculture. Lets wait! As someone who loves the N.I environment I do have a lot of respect for the N.I Environment Agency. However N.I is the only part of Ireland or the UK which does not have an independent Environment Agency to regulate industries such as the fracking industry. Realistically the NIEA will not be able to regulate a huge industry like this on the ground and pollution and accidents will occur. 6. Economics This gas has been in the ground for millions of years. A simple economic argument....let it stay there until we can get a safe and clean way to exploit it. As each day goes by the price of the gas in the ground below N.I continues to rise. Simple economics. I feel the fracking companies are in this for a quick buck. The people of N.I need to benefit from their own natural resources. We all want to see the people of N.I be wealthy and healthy and these plans will not result in that outcome. The gas will belong to Tamboran. I feel that it will be sold to the highest bidder on the international market and exported out of the country via the rest of the UK gas network. There is no gas infrastructure/network in the west of N.I the minister stated she would develop this but is that a good investment? This gas and global gas will be running out in the next generation, why not invest now in the new needed smart grid for renewable energy? 7.A balanced and rational debate: Come along to a free event tonight in Belfast hosted by the Co-operative where the issue of fracking and shale gas and the future for N.I will be debated. This event is in the Blackbox arts centre and starts at 6.30pm to finish by 9.30pm. Thanks for the chance to comment.

Hydraulic fracturing for gas is NOT a reliable and safe way to provide for energy needs...and could be wildly destructive of the present economy and quality of life, for the whole island of Ireland. Big Business can suggest massive returns, but these are just guesses and promises. Tamboran is just a finance company,wanting to sell on the drilling rights and make a quick profit. they'll be long gone when we're left to deal with the horrendous consequences to the Agriculture and Tourism industries, to our health, and to the water supply that all life depends on. Research shows that the new (ten year)method of horizontal drilling has devastated the lives of people in the areas mined,and we MUST look to renewable energy sources for a sustainable and long term future. Water is going to be the next huge, world-wide problem,we threaten Ireland's water quality at our peril.