To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the reasons for his decision to allow a draft Marine Construction Licence to Infrastrata for gas storage caverns under Larne Lough, Islandmagee.

I approved the DAERA consents for the proposed Islandmagee Gas Storage project on 27 September 2021. The relevant documentation was issued to Islandmagee Energy Ltd. on 12 October 2021.

My decision was informed by consideration of environmental information and the views of people who responded to the consultation on the application. The matter is complex and, as such, I have given the documentation all due consideration.

I am satisfied that all material considerations have been assessed by officials and adequate mitigation has been identified to minimise the impacts of the project. The mitigation identified has been incorporated into the Marine Licence, Discharge Consent and Abstraction Licence and will augment the existing mitigation in the planning permission.