AQW 12116/22-27

Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 17/05/2024
Answered On Date: 04/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether (i) her Department; and (ii) the Utility Regulator sought external legal advice on the Islandmagee Gas Storage Project in relation to (a) the issue of consent in Article 37 of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996; and (b) any other issue.

Answer:

The Department sought legal advice from Departmental Solicitors’ Office in 2022 on the Islandmagee Gas Storage Project in relation to (a) the issue of consent under Article 37 of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. The Department also sought external legal advice between 2011 and 2014 on (b) other issues relating to gas storage facilities.

The Utility Regulator has sought external legal advice on the Islandmagee Gas Storage Project in relation to (a) and (b).

In providing this response, no waiver of legal privilege is intended by the Department or the Utility Regulator.