Debate contribution: Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (Repeal) Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Miss Áine Murphy on .
- MLA
- Miss Áine Murphy
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 27 April 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (Repeal) Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5508186
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I support the Bill and welcome its Second Stage. For many people in County Fermanagh, the legislation has been a long time coming. As Members may know, I introduced a private Member's Bill in the previous mandate to ban fracking. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to get it through Committee Stage. For years, people in rural communities, especially in County Fermanagh and County Leitrim, have lived with the fear of what fracking could mean for their environment, for their health and for the future of communities that have been there for generations. Those communities, however, did not stay silent. Instead, they organised, campaigned and made it clear that they would not accept damage being inflicted on their area, and they were right to do so. This is about environmental justice, public health and the right of communities to have a say on what happens where they live. We cannot talk about a just transition while leaving the door open to harmful practices from the past. The Bill is an important step forward. It reflects the determination of communities who refuse to be ignored. It recognises the power of local campaigning and shows what can happen when people stand together. I commend my colleague Caoimhe Archibald for introducing the Bill. It sends a clear message to communities that the Assembly listens. I urge all Members to support the Bill.
229 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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