A bill in Ireland to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, passed the first stage of approval on Thursday as lawmakers voted it through the country’s House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann).
According to the Irish Examiner, several attempts by opponents to delay or block the bill from being heard failed. It was introduced to parliament by Fine Gael backbench Teachta Dála (TD) Tony McLoughlin, who responded on Twitter, “A major win for the environment & for Irish politics!”
McLoughlin represents Sligo-Leitrim, a region that has been slated for potential fracking projects. Three licenses for shale gas exploration have been granted in Ireland, although no drilling has yet taken place. Supporters of the bill repeatedly cited environmental reports that say the controversial technique—which involves blasting chemical-laden water into the ground at high speeds to release gas trapped beneath rock formations—threatens water supplies and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change.
Environmental advocates also welcomed the news.
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