“Yesterday’s motion, which will go out for public consultation soon, is not as simple as first suggested – it will have no effect on Woodburn Forest, where that particular horse has bolted. It was a poor move by Sinn Fein – they are an Executive party and the Executive has the power to stop that drilling.
“There are genuine concerns around the water supply from Woodburn, which need to be investigated further. The former Department of the Environment’s contribution in assessing the potential impact of the drilling fell far short of what was needed.
“All environmental factors must be considered before such a serious process is permitted to begin. If not, disastrous consequences for our natural environment may be seen.”