Green Party NI has welcomed the announcement that Permitted Development Rights (PDR) are to be taken away in respect of the exploration for hydrocarbons, including fracking.

The party's MLA Rachel Woods has submitted an Assembly motion calling for a moratorium on onshore petroleum licencing and drilling to be heard next week.

She said: "This announcement is the culmination of a committed campaign by Stop the Drill and other environmental campaigners, exposing the mismanagement of the PDR planning process. I would like to pay tribute to the campaigners whose determination has forced this legislative change.

-- Advertisement --

"However, I am disappointed that Minister Mallon has not removed PDR for other types of minerals exploration, such as for precious metals, which in recent years has resulted in hundreds of temporary drilling sites springing up across the Sperrin Mountains.

"The Green Party NI will continue to support the communities threatened by the destructive extractive industries of oil, gas and the mining of gold.

"Fossil fuels and precious metals must be kept in the ground. As a society, it is time to make the just transition to towards a low carbon economy and the creation of green jobs."