The Irish Government is being urged to work with the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) to ban all fracking throughout Ireland.

Two Sinn Féin TD's made the call and said they are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure fracking is not permitted.

Spokesperson on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Brian Stanley said: "The exploratory drilling carried out in Woodburn, County Antrim this week is a concern not just for the local communities affected but for the entire Island.

-- Advertisement --

"The threat of fracking on one part of the island is a threat to the natural green image of the entire island.

"The threat to our tourism and agricultural industries would be severe if fracking were to take hold in Ireland.

"Many communities in the United States have been utterly destroyed by the fracking industry and the environmental devastation it has caused through air pollution and poisoning of underground water tables."

MEP for Dublin, Lynn Boylan said: "I completely understand the concerns of the local community of Woodburn, County Antrim about the potential impact the drilling could have on the environment and also that it could be a precursor to an application to carry out fracking on the site.

"I believe it is imperative that Infrastrata meet with the local community immediately to address their concerns.

"Fracking has been proven on several occasions to be detrimental in terms of the environment, health, agriculture and climate."

(CD/MH)