Anti-fracking protesters gathered outside Leinster House today as a meeting took place inside between Oireachtas members and a company that hopes to extract gas in north Leitrim.

Members of the Love Leitrim group said they believe fracking would damage the environment of the region and threaten the health of residents.

Fracking – or hydraulic fracturing – is a form of mining where millions of gallons of fluid is forced underground in an attempt to crack open rock formations so natural gas can be accessed.

Australian company Tamboran claims it can create more than 3,000 jobs if it is allowed to drill for gas using fracking.

The company met TDs and Senators today for a briefing organised by Senator Susan O'Keeffe.

At the meeting, Sligo North Leitrim TD Michael Colreavy told the executives that he did not trust them because he said they were only in it for the money.

Tamboran Chief Executive Richard Moorman denied that the company had overestimated the size of the gas find.

