A number of members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have criticised the holding of a “behind closed doors” meeting between consultants appointed by the Department for the Economy in relation to fracking.

While the meeting was considered to be informal in nature, therefore neither open to the public nor minuted, members warned it should not be considered part of an official consultation exercise around the viability of fracking in the district.

Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, Independent queried: “After a previous vote on fracking was rescinded, why did council proceed to conduct this ‘behind closed doors meeting’ around this very issue?”

Chief Executive Alison McCullagh advised council procedures relate to committee meetings and: “When this matter was discussed previously those procedures remained, so that anything to be dealt with in confidential business is done so, for legislative reasons.”

She confirmed the meeting in question was indeed informal therefore not open to the public, but if members wished to have a public meeting, it would be framed through normal routes or form part of a council committee.

“That was not the case for this particular meeting,” Ms. McCullagh added.

Independent Councillor Emmet McAleer referred to other meetings in which: “Members took exception to councillors lobbying and if that’s the case, maybe they are failing to comprehend the actual task in hand of what councillors are elected to do. The fact that myself and a number of other councillors are lobbying on behalf of our constituents is nothing we need to apologise or express any regret for.”

In respect of the outcome of the rescinding motion coupled with the meetings with consultants, Councillor McAleer felt there is mixed communication as to whether it was the council end, the Department or the consultants themselves.

“It was seemingly advertised as an informal meeting, but was taken up by the consultants and the Department as the council’s opportunity to respond to this £75,000 review of the industry that nobody here wants or welcomes.”

He enquired if there are minutes of the meeting or a recording, and if these will be made available for public access, and: “I know we have requested a follow-up meeting, but will it also be classed as informal or will there be public access to that? Given the sensitivities and importance around this issue, I would like to think it would be something made available, and it would be appropriate to allow public and press coverage.”

The Chief Executive confirmed no official minutes or recording were taken as the meeting was informal, but members may have kept their own notes.

“The only meetings which are minuted are committee and working groups. This was informal so did not fall within those,” she said.

In terms of the follow-up meeting, Ms. McCullagh told members: “It’s my understanding the consultants had undertaken to provide a further opportunity for members to engage and certainly we can ask if it is their intention for that to be conducted publicly. They themselves I’m sure will have a note of the meeting and if that is the case, we can ask for it. We would need to follow up on that basis.”

Concluding discussions, Sinn Fein’s Councillor Barry McElduff remarked: “It is also the feeling of our group that the status of that particular meeting is now confusing and we are uncertain. Our members who attended were there on the basis it was indeed an informal meeting and would not want the consultants or the Department deem that to be an official consultation exercise. There is a strong feeling within our group along with what has been expressed by Councillor O’Cofaigh and Councillor McAleer.”