A Co Antrim community group has vowed to fight a Supreme Court bid to overturn our top judge's decision that approving Larne Lough Gas Caverns was 'unlawful'.
It follows a protracted legal battle that saw Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan rule against former DAERA Minister Edwin Poots' decision to give the project a marine licence at the Court of Appeal.
NI's Court of Appeal said the project required consideration by all ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive and "that approving the project had the effect of potentially locking in fossil fuel dependency for 40 years to come which was of obvious significance to a climate policy directed at net zero by 2050".
READ MORE: Court of Appeal rules Edwin Poots' gas caverns decision was 'irrational'
READ MORE: Larne Lough Gas Caverns "not significant or controversial" Appeal Court told
But following the June ruling, the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs escalated it to the Supreme Court in July after conferring with the Executive.
The Court of Appeal Judgment now means decisions relating to certain fossil fuel projects which are contrary to climate change commitments must be taken by all members of the Northern Ireland Executive rather than a single minister.
Now No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth NI are gearing up to oppose Stormont's case, which Minister Muir told the assembly in a statement has "potentially very significant implications of the judgement of all departments".
The groups said they are disappointed Minister Muir has directed his department to file an application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in London and that the move in relation to the major fossil fuel project stands in stark contrast to his previous statement that "moving away from fossil fuels must be our priority as we face into the climate crisis".
Friends of the Earth NI director, James Orr, said: "We are both surprised and disappointed at the minister for deciding to send the gas caverns case the Supreme Court. This is contrary to the Alliance Party's recent manifesto commitment to end oil and gas extraction.
"This attempt impacts the community who yet again have to put their lives on hold to protect their coastline and marine life against the dirty fossil fuel industry. This is another threat to meeting our climate commitments and our ability to help avert the worst of climate breakdown."
A spokesperson for No Gas Caverns added: "We are dismayed and disappointed that as a community we are required to fight again to protect our environment against fossil fuel giants.
"We are even more disappointed that Minister Muir, who has made public commitments to make the climate emergency his priority, is attempting to overturn the Court of Appeal decision which ensures that fossil fuel projects which go against our statutory climate change targets are considered by all Ministers and are not subject to a decision of a single Minister."
A DAERA spokesman said: "As this matter is subject to litigation, the Department cannot make any further comment at this stage."
No Gas Caverns have created a new Crowd Justice Link for people to donate to support them with their legal fees.
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