Debate contribution: Mineral Licensing Moratorium

Debate contribution by Ms Diana Armstrong on 17 June 2025.

MLA

Ms Diana Armstrong

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

17 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Mineral Licensing Moratorium

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5014073

Read the official Assembly record

Text

We all want to see progress across society with the building of new homes, growing the economy and providing well-paid jobs in areas often overlooked, but the motion before us may risk just that. The motion calls for a review of the current framework, but the Department is already reviewing the framework to update it. The scoping document states that the review will assess:

"the economic, societal and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland."

Of course, it is essential that environmental concerns are included, and I hope the process will also promote greater community consultation. However, the motion simply misrepresents the nature of mineral prospecting licences and risks undermining Northern Ireland's economic and strategic interests. Let us be clear: a mineral prospecting licence is not a licence to mine; it permits only low-impact exploration, not extraction. There is no automatic progression from prospecting to mining, and each stage is subject to separate rigorous regulatory scrutiny. Northern Ireland's mineral resources are vital to our economy and our future. The strategic planning policy statement recognises that minerals are essential to a sustainable quality of life. They support construction, manufacturing, agriculture and, crucially, the green technologies needed to meet our climate goals. Without domestic sources of critical minerals, we risk deepening our reliance on imports, often from unstable or adversarial countries with lower environmental standards and human rights issues. The motion refuses to acknowledge that the global transition to renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure depends heavily on access to critical minerals and rare earth elements, but we should not put barriers in the way of indigenous exploration that Northern Ireland can benefit from. We should strengthen the framework. The mineral product sector here already supports thousands of jobs with 160 quarries, mines and sandpits in Northern Ireland, particularly in rural areas, where opportunities are limited. You need only to look at parts of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where the development of that sector has transformed communities, particularly with companies like Mannok, formerly Quinn's, which is now a powerhouse of industry, whose roots started in a simple gravel pit in Fermanagh. In fact, 75% of quarries and pits are located in areas designated for targeting social need. Therefore, it is not just about industry but about regional development and social equity. I would have thought that the proposers of the motion would support that. Are they advocating the closure of companies in my constituency, putting jobs and families at risk? The motion, while well-meaning, is based on misunderstanding and fear. It threatens economic growth, job creation and our ability to transition to a greener future. As public representatives, we must commit ourselves to evidence-based regulation and responsible resource management.

451 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:48 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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