The Green Party has submitted an Assembly motion urging for a moratorium on all onshore petroleum licensing in Northern Ireland.

In 2011 the Assembly passed a motion on the moratorium on onshore and offshore exploration, development and production of shale gas by withdrawing licences for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Northern Ireland.

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However, the threat of onshore fracking continues with the Economy Department announcing funding for a study on petroleum exploration last week.

Green Party NI MLA Rachel Woods said: "This motion calls on the Assembly to reject the dangerous and environmentally destructive practice of fracking.

"Shale gas must be left in the ground and our focus shifted towards the just transition to a low carbon economy."