Minister Dempsey faces mass opposition in Donegal

The West's Awake!

Family and friends of the 'Rossport five' who were jailed recently for preventing a major gas pipeline being built on their land will be will be joined by Donegal farmers, nuns and environmentalists when ask some difficult questions of Minister for the marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey this coming Thursday.

Minister Dempsey will be addressing the McGill Summer School in Glenties on 'Managing the Future'.

Following a large protest in Letterkenny recently, the North West Shell to Sea group will be attending the summer school to express their fury at the continued imprisonment of the five Mayo men and the involvement by the government in allowing the project to go ahead.

A spokesperson said 'This situation can't go on. There's five innocent men in jail. Multinationals Shell and Statoil are building one of Europe's biggest gas refineries on sensitive bog land in North Mayo. They are putting people's lives at risk of a high pressure gas pipeline which should not be processed on shore - it should be sent to sea as is normal practice. Furthermore they are destroying a pristine natural environment with the promise of a handful of jobs at the end of it.'

The Shell to Sea campaign are also drawing attention to the economics of the plan. 'We intend asking Minister Dempsey what kind of future has he in store for the people of Ireland. Is it one where multinational companies can compulsory order your land? Is it one where government and corporations bully and imprison people who object peacefully? Is it one where an estimated 20 billion euros of Irish gas is to be piped out of the country with little or no return to the Irish people? 20 billion euros would certainly sort out our critical health service not to mention the lack of youth and community facilities.
We as taxpaying citizens have a right to know how are resources are being managed and mismanaged, especially since there may be a substantial gas field in and around County Donegal'.

The group are also organising a forum called 'Our resources - Our Future', which will take place from 6pm to 9pm in Glenties Community Centre following Minister Dempsey's address.

The forum will feature speakers from the Mayo campaign as well as represenatives of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers association.

The forum will be chaired by Sr. Nellie McLaughlin of Inishowen who is a respected author and lecturer.

All are invited to come and hear the people of Mayo talk about their campaign work over the last four years and the ongoing imprisonment of their friends and family.