Sinn Féin spokesperson for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Colreavy TD, has said that fracking is not the solution for energy security.

Following a meeting between United States President, Barack Obama and European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, where the idea of greater use of shale gas was floated, Deputy Colreavy said: "Fracking is not the answer to Ireland, or indeed Europe's energy demands. Comments made by President Obama to the European Commission telling Europe that it needs to take difficult steps to develop its own resources are disingenuous.

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"If shale gas were to be introduced as a form of fossil fuel in Europe, it is not Russian gas that would be displaced but rather liquefied gas which comes from Qatar, as highlighted by petroleum industry consultants Pӧyry.

"British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has recently claimed that Britain needs to expand its shale gas industry, using the pretext of the crisis in the Ukraine as a cover. However, the Tory's have been cheerleaders for fracking long before the situation in Eastern Europe arose.

"The truth is that Europe has many options, many of them safe for the environment, people's health and ones which will give us security of energy."

(CD/JP)