A Belfast councillor fears the Department for Economy could overturn Northern Ireland’s fracking ban.
The gas extraction technique was banned by former Environment Minister Mark H Durkan back in 2015 following public outcry over how it would impact the environment.
But SDLP politician Séamas de Faoite has revealed that DfE has commissioned research company Hatch Regeneris to examine the impact of fracking in the North.
He led a protest outside DfE Adelaide Street with SDLP youth to highlight their concerns on Thursday.
It follows a recent action over the same issue by Extinction Rebellion NI.
Lisnasharragh’s Councillor de Faoite said: “We held this protest after serious concerns that DfE is set to disregard the good work done by former SDLP Environment Minister Mark H Durkan and allow fracking to take place in the North.
“ Fracking was banned in 2015 after public outcry and concern around the environmental impact.
“That the department is now commissioning research on fracking suggests they are considering a change of policy.
“People in rural communities have already made their feelings known on this issue – they don’t want fracking and DfE needs to listen to them.
“The harm fracking causes to our environment is well known,” he added.
“It’s bad for our climate and risks causing air, water and sound pollution, it’s the last thing the DfE should be considering when we are in the midst of a climate crisis that is getting worse every day – the earth is literally on fire.
“I would urge the department to step back and reassess their options. Rather than considering allowing fracking, they should be focusing on harnessing the potential of green energy, creating thousands of jobs in the process and solving the myriad of problems facing our students that they regularly ignore.
“Any attempt to allow fracking in the North is likely to be beset by legal challenges and will cause nothing but misery for both our rural communities and our climate.”
The Department for Economy has been contacted for comment.
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