Tuesday 13 October 2020
Rachel Woods MLA has secured the support of the NI Assembly for a moratorium on onshore petroleum licensing & drilling.
The motion was debated in the Assembly this afternoon and received cross party support.
Rachel Woods MLA said: “I would like to pay tribute to the campaigners who have worked tirelessly to protect their communities from the threat of petroleum licensing, drilling and extraction of hydrocarbons.
“The concern of these campaigners and activists has always surrounded public health and their well-founded fears of the dangerous effects of fracking and other types of exploratory drilling.
"I’m pleased that the NI Assembly has backed my motion but I am disappointed that Economy Minister Diane Dodds failed to recognise the harm that petroleum licensing & drilling has inflicted upon communities and indicated that she would not support the motion.
“In an age of climate breakdown, the determination to drill is an act of environmental vandalism. The Assembly has declared a climate emergency and we have legal duties to meet targets in the Paris Agreement. Banning onshore drilling is a first step to meeting these targets.
“The resounding and welcome message from the Assembly today was fossil fuels must be left in the ground.”
ENDS
Media Contact
Sinead McIvor - 07701 302 498