Member's statement: No Gas Caverns Campaign
Member's statement by Mr Danny Donnelly on .
- MLA
- Mr Danny Donnelly
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 18 June 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- No Gas Caverns Campaign
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4496876
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise to congratulate the No Gas Caverns campaign in Islandmagee on its legal victory yesterday at the Court of Appeal. The campaign has been working for many years to oppose having seven skyscraper-sized caverns constructed under Larne lough to store natural gas. It would have created a dead zone in the sea off the coast of Islandmagee and locked Northern Ireland into fossil fuel dependency for decades at a time when we have legally binding targets to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. The No Gas Caverns campaign is made up of local residents who are absolutely committed to protecting that beautiful area for future generations. They fundraised for many years, arranging events such as coffee mornings, local gigs and freezing swims at Brown's Bay, and they have huge support in the local community. It was a long struggle for the campaigners, but they fought tirelessly, overcoming the odds and getting back up after knock-backs. They are a very persistent bunch. The decision could have far-reaching consequences for future fossil fuel projects across Northern Ireland. It is a real David and Goliath story, and it shows that, when a dedicated group of people organise together to oppose a damaging proposal in their area, they can win. The Assembly declared a climate emergency in 2020 and passed the Climate Change Act in 2022, which set legal targets for reducing emissions. We should shift our focus from polluting fossil fuel schemes such as that proposed project and concentrate on seizing the huge economic benefits and security of supply that will come from developing sources of clean renewable energy here in Northern Ireland. In the words of the campaign spokesperson, Lisa Dobbie:
"It's a win for the community, wildlife and the environment".
291 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.64).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.05 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.64 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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