The consultancy company appointed by the Department of Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA to research the viability of fracking, has been left in no doubt of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s fierce opposition.

During a special meeting of the Regeneration and Development, representatives of Hatch Regeneris heard a united voice from the chamber.

It was the second meeting with the consultants, which was called because the first, held in February, was behind closed doors.

As before officials from the Department’s Mineral’s Branch were in attendance in a ‘watching brief’ perspective.

At the outset Sinn Fein’s Councillor Barry McElduff enquired as to the status of the meeting due to previous confusion.

Director of Regeneration and Planning Kim McLaughlin advised: “This is a formal engagement with the consultants appointed by the Department in respect of research into hydraulic minerals policy and follows an informal meeting. Council has written to both the Department and Hatch Regeneris informing them of our policy position which is clearly opposed to petroleum exploration extraction by fracking.

"The consultants will prepare a report on their research, which will be used by the Department to form policy options, ahead of public consultation. The decision will be taken by the Executive as a whole given the cross-cutting and controversial nature of the issue.”

Economist Niall Evans and geographer Kelly Watson attended for Hatch Regeneris and Michael Bradley from the Department’s Minerals Branch.

Independent Councillor Emmet McAleer said: “We are hearing terms such a green-growth which I oxymoronic when dealing with a finite resource and a fossil fuel, which we’re supposedly trying to phase out. If anyone’s in any doubt of the local impacts or perceptions of fracking, they obviously haven’t been paying much attention. It is deeply concerning. This affects every county in the North, particularly Fermanagh, Tyrone and Antrim and we need to be very aware that.”

He added: “It’s clear there is seemingly a Department of Economy policy of the continuing the narrative that fracking can be mitigated to an acceptable level, even though the science points to the exact opposite. There is nearly a preference or determination to continue with exploration using gas claiming it is a transition fuel.”

Councillor John Coyle SDLP, who successfully tabled a motion against fracking last week, stated: “Priority should have been given to environment and public health over economic benefits. This will not create additional wealth. We will lose our wealth as we rely on tourism and agricultural industry and that will be wiped out if fracking is allowed to happen. We are looking at a biodiversity disaster in the future and fracking will accelerate that.”

He was followed by Councillor Chris McCaffrey, Sinn Fein also pointed to public healthy being left out of the scope of research, which: “Will be the most impacted and it needs to feature significantly in the development of any potential policy … Any potential Environmental Impact Assessment should include an independent health assessment drawing public health research and peer reviews where fracking is taking place.”

The SDLP’s Councillor Adam Gannon remarked “Fracking is economically high risk and predications from companies are quite often overstated …There’s no substantive benefit for the people of our district.”

Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, Independent said: “I don’t have any confidence in the process.”

He enquired why Departmental officials were attending the meeting pointing out: “The public had no opportunity to input into the Terms of Reference on the research and the Department has overall editorial control over the final draft. We’ve already witnessed the Department’s apparent willingness to edit uncomplimentary reports.”

Councillor O’Cofaigh called for the unedited draft to be made available against any changes in the final report.

Independent Councillor Bernice Swift referenced: “Serious concerns on public healthy and the social and human rights. We are responsible for and elected to look after all to area. I remain totally unconvinced there will be benefit if the Department make the fatal decision to permit fracking. I remain committed and opposed to any of this policy allowing extraction. There has been a large economic charm offensive around discussions on fracking and we will scrutinise Terms of Reference.”

Concluding, Ulster Unionist Councillor Alex Baird said: “If anyone was in any doubt of the breadth and depth of opposition to fracking in this district council, I would hope that has been dispelled by what has been said here.”