Corrib Gas Pipeline jailings by Shell

mayo | environment | press release Sunday July 03, 2005 14:47 by hs - sp (per cap)

Minister Dempsey and Government cannot wash their hands

New Socialist Party Press Release
1st July 2005

sorry about the reprint, if one of the editors could move it with the other statements, thanks, hs


Socialist Party Press Release
1st July 2005
Corrib Gas Pipeline jailings by Shell
Minister Dempsey and Government cannot wash their hands

Joe Higgins, TD

Minister for Communication, Marine and Natural Resources Mr. Noel Dempsey is desperately trying to pretend that he has no responsibility in the jailing of five landowners and local residents from north Mayo in the controversy over how gas from the Corrib field should be brought ashore.

In fact, everything that Shell is doing began initially in the Dail chamber going back to when Fianna Fail Government made it possible for a fabulous resource to be given to multinational oil and gas companies with not a penny in royalties accruing to the Irish people.

It is because of Shell's determination to exploit this natural resource off the Mayo coast and in the process absolutely maximise their profit, that they have taken to a systematic bullying of people in the local community who stand in their way. It is quite clear to people right around the country now that it is entirely irresponsible and unreasonable to bring a pipeline under the unprecedented pressure envisaged close to people's homes and families. The Government has to take full responsibility for what has developed up to the present time.

I repeat the call that I made to Minister Dempsey in the Dail yesterday to intervene immediately. It is a smokescreen to say as he has done that he cannot intervene because of High Court decisions. There is absolutely nothing stopping Minister Dempsey from prevailing upon Shell to withdraw from the confrontation that it has initiated.

This weekend Fianna Fail and Progressive Democrat representatives in the West in particular should be put under enormous pressure to compel their Government to withdraw from its policy of handing shell everything on a plate, including even the liberty of decent residents of north Mayo.

For further information, contact Joe Higgins T.D. at (01) 6183038
Email: joe.higgins@oireachtas.irlgov.ie