Forcing fracking on Fermanagh – Minister told ‘Ireland is not Qatar’

Arlene Foster – Comparing Fermanagh to Qatar

FERMANAGH & SOUTH TYRONE Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has told Assembly Minister Arlene Foster that ‘Ireland is not Qatar’ after the DUP MLA justified imposing fracking here on the grounds that gas exploration has not damaged tourism in the Middle East kingdom.

“Arlene’s statement is ridiculous,” the Sinn Féin MLA said after the Enterprise, Trade & Investment Minister cited Qatar as an argument for forcing fracking on Fermanagh.

Phil Flanagan said:

“Her complete lack of knowledge of the impact fracking will have here astounds me. What is worse is that she appears not to be able to differentiate the difference in what tourists visit Qatar and rural Ireland for.”

He said that people go to Qatar “for the high life”, the good weather and to experience a different culture, he said, adding:

“Tourists visit places like Fermanagh and Leitrim for our quiet and scenic environment, for tranquillity, to sample our clean countryside and enjoy our natural environment.

“If fracking were to be imposed here, then all this would be in serious danger.”