Group writes to Mark H Durkan to demand action to address conflict of interest
Belcoo Frack Free chairperson, Tom White, spoke of his group's concerns over the all-island research programme into unconventional gas or fracking and demanded immediate action by the Environment Minister and local political leaders:
"Minister Mark H Durkan has stressed his satisfaction with the processes and procedures associated with the all-island UGEE (Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction) study which is being currently undertaken on a cross-border basis. This study will be hugely influential in whether fracking proceeds in Ireland over the next few years.
"Local campaigners have been highly critical of the exclusion of any health-assessment within this study as well as its narrow terms of reference but we are highly shocked that the consortium contracted to produce this study will be led by CDM Smith a known cheer-leader for this industry.
