NI Fracking A Decision For Stormont - Attwood

Environment Minister Alex Attwood has said a decision on fracking in northern Ireland will only be made at Stormont.

Reacting to the news that Westminster has given the controversial gas-extraction technique the green light, Mr Attwood said: "I note the further position of the London government. However, I want to confirm that decisions on fracking in Northern Ireland are strictly for the Northern Ireland government. In particular, I have warned against a head long rush in to fracking and I repeat that today.”

An Australian company, Tamboran, has a licence to explore the method of gas extraction in County Fermanagh.

"The planning and environment issues around any energy proposal fall to the Department of Environment (DOE)," Mr Attwood said.

"Those responsibilities will be robustly and faithfully honoured on any proposal for fracking. I will make sure that this applies to any action or proposal by Tamboran."

Fracking remains controversial due to claims from campaigners that it causes significant damage to the environment. The technique involves forcing water, sand and chemicals underground under high pressure to release gas from the rock.

"There is of course a wider and more fundamental issue," the Minister continued.

"That is the question as to how safe is fracking. The science on this is still developing. Research is continuing in Europe, in America and on this island. It will be some time before that research is concluded. This is one of the crucial pieces that needs to be assessed when looking at the fracking picture.

"It is also of note that separately today a main adviser to the London and devolved governments – the Committee on Climate Change -advised that efforts should be concentrated on renewables in the future. I agree. Renewables is arguably Ireland’s biggest economic opportunity - electricity self sufficiency, net energy exporters, research and development jobs, engineering and manufacturing growth. We need to fully embrace this."

(IT)