To ask the Minister for the Economy whether, in the preparation of petroleum licensing options to bring before the Executive, he will be including an option to ban petroleum licensing altogether.

A full range of policy options for the future of petroleum licensing in Northern Ireland is under consideration, including a ban on all petroleum licensing.

I hope to bring these options to the Executive in the New Year for agreement of a preferred policy option.

Following Executive approval of a preferred option, my Department will take forward a public consultation which will set out the range of options considered and the rationale for the preferred policy option.