East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said that Sinn Fein proposals for a local referendum in Fermanagh on hydraulic fracturing to release shale gas is not the appropriate way to decide such an issue and is simply being put up by Sinn Fein as another attempt to block economic development.

Mr Wilson said: "Everyone is well aware of Sinn Fein's limited grasp of economic issues and it is increasingly clear that they are intent on finding every possible way to block economic development in Northern Ireland.

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"The proposal by Sinn Fein to hold a local referendum in Fermanagh to decide on the usage of hydraulic fracturing to exploit shale gas is simply another example of this. This is a party which talks about fuel poverty, but then go out of their way to block the exploitation of a resource which could reduce fuel bills for thousands of families.

"The proposal is to hold a local referendum on the issue, but shale gas is not just a local resource. It is a decision which will have an impact right across Northern Ireland and the proper place for such a decision to be taken is within the Assembly. Sinn Fein may prefer to abdicate their responsibility, but the proper way to go about this is to have a debate on the policies related to shale gas exploitation, the industrial policy, minerals policy and planning policy."

(CD/MH)