A MOTION proposing that Sligo County Council work with other local authorities from the region to oppose the practice of hydraulic fracturing/fracking was unanimosusly adopted at the monthly meeting of Sligo County Council.

Proposing the motion Cllr Declan Bree said "Following the decision by this Council last month to call on the government to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing/fracking, councillors and council officials from Leitrim, Sligo, Fermanagh and Cavan were invited to attend a meeting on the issue in Enniskillen. The meeting was hosted by Fermanagh District Council.

"Those from Sligo in attendance at the Enniskillen meeting were Cllr Jerry Lundy, Acting Director of Services Mr Tom Brennan and I.    

"The meeting agreed to invite Minister Pat Rabbitte and Northern Minister Arlene Foster to a further meeting of councillors from the four councils in Enniskillen in the near future.    

"The meeting also agreed that the draft motion on our agenda today should be circulated to each of the four councils for consideration and adoption.

"By adopting the motion it gives the Councils a mandate to work together and with other local authorities in the region to oppose the practice of hydraulic fracturing/fracking.

"I formally move the motion:   “Recognising the dangers that hydraulic fracturing/fracking poses to water quality, to human safety and the general environment, this council resolves to work together with other local authorities in the region, to oppose the practice of hydraulic fracturing/fracking and we call on the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Irish Government to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing/fracking North and South of the border.”