Motion: Department of the Economy Review on Petroleum Licensing Policy

“The Council notes that it has a clear an unambiguous corporate position   relating to petroleum exploration and extraction by the process of hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking.  In our Local Development Plan and all our correspondence with the Department for the Economy, this Council’s  opposition to fracking is clear.

This Council agrees to write to the Department for the Economy to seek clarification as to why the environment and human health is not being given priority consideration in research being undertaken by Hatch Regeneris.

The Council agrees to commission a study into the impacts of fracking on  our local environment, the health of people in the District, and the potentially devasting impact on our local agriculture and tourism economy.

Council notes that Hatch Regeneris committed to reengaging with us.  The Council agrees to request that Hatch Regeneris attend a Special Regeneration and Community Committee meeting which will provide opportunity to publicly express the Council’s strong opposition to shale gas exploration and extraction by hydraulic fracturing.

Furthermore, any extraction would be contrary to the Northern Ireland Assembly commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and would undermine our obligations under  the Paris Agreement.  As fracking is  a cross cutting issue across multiple government departments, we call on the Northern Ireland Executive to reject petroleum or shale gas exploration      and extraction by hydraulic fracturing.”