Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt has expressed his surprise at Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster’s claim on the BBC that she had “no role or input into any of the discussions or granting of licences” in relation to shale gas fracturing or “fracking”.  

Speaking after news emerged that Mrs Foster had failed to declare that her husband owned 54 acres of land within the gas exploration zone at a recent session of Assembly questions, the Strangford MLA said;

“During Question Time on the 7th of November, the Enterprise Minister faced a number of questions from MLAs on the subject of the granting of licenses for shale gas fracturing or “fracking”.

Amongst other things she said “our policy is to facilitate the assessment of all energy supply options, including indigenous gas resources.”

In response to a question from my Ulster Unionist colleague Danny Kinahan, she said, “I have often been asked for facts and evidence about fracking”. In a rather tetchy response to the Green Party MLA Steven Agnew she said “I spend ages looking for security of supply solutions for Northern Ireland and looking at ways to bring gas to the west and at ways to bring an alternative energy supply to the Northern Ireland people.”

Quite clearly this is an issue about which Mrs Foster has a good deal of familiarity. It is obvious that she  also understands the importance of securing a locally based energy supply. With that in mind, I find it rather strange that she would state on BBC that she had “no role or input into any of the discussions or granting of licences.” 
Surely one could have expected the Minister to take a greater interest in a subject about which she is clearly well briefed and which she regards as important?
 
Perhaps more details will be revealed when the Minister appears before the Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee next week.”