Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Public Inquiry >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy
Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy
It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy
Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left
Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy
Human Rights in Ireland >>
Hate Cleric Raises £3 Million to Create Islamic Homeland on Scottish Island Sun Jul 28, 2024 13:01 | Richard Eldred
A radical cleric has raised over £3 million to transform a remote Scottish island into a self-governing Islamic state with its own army, justice system, school and hospital.
The post Hate Cleric Raises £3 Million to Create Islamic Homeland on Scottish Island appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Why I Fear What Labour Will Do to the Education System Sun Jul 28, 2024 11:00 | Stephen Curran
We are facing a radical agenda set by the progressive wing of the educational establishment, says Dr Stephen Curran. We should build on the past 14 years' foundation, not tear it down.
The post Why I Fear What Labour Will Do to the Education System appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Labour Has Just Betrayed a Generation of Young People Sun Jul 28, 2024 09:00 | Richard Eldred
By dropping the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, the Education Secretary has declared war on the culture of free speech on campus. The fight-back starts here, says Claire Fox in the Telegraph.
The post Labour Has Just Betrayed a Generation of Young People appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
The Extreme Weather We?re Experiencing Is Not Man Made, According to the IPCC Sun Jul 28, 2024 07:00 | Mark Ellse
Day-to-day weather, with all its extremes, is "just weather", according to the IPCC. With their authority onside, we can shrug off the BBC's melodramatic climate reports and misinformation, says Mark Ellse.
The post The Extreme Weather We?re Experiencing Is Not Man Made, According to the IPCC appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
News Round-Up Sun Jul 28, 2024 01:17 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en
Voltaire Network >>
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (10 of 10)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10What a complete disgrace, Pat rabbitte should be ashamed of himself in calling on these brave men to apologies to the Court. I guess it just demonstrates how completely out of touch the Labour party are on this issue.
Rabbitte makes proposals to resolve Rossport impasse
Issued : Tuesday 30 August, 2005
Statement by Pat Rabbitte TD
Labour Leader & Spokesperson on Northern Ireland
The ongoing incarceration of five law-abiding citizens because of their convictions that the Shell operation at Rossport, County Mayo, may pose a risk to health and life is now bordering on becoming a national disgrace.
I am suggesting the following three-pronged approach to break the impasse
1. That Shell waives its interests under the injunction.
2. That the five men simultaneously apologise to the court.
3. That an agreed mediator, with access to whatever professional and technical advice is necessary, be appointed by Government to report on all of the issues of concern to the men.
Specifically, as far as the third point above is concerned, the mediator ought to be required in addition to the health and safety issues to report on what measures are proposed by the oil companies to contribute to the development of this region of Mayo. Whatever the merits of the original terms negotiated between the oil companies and the Government, it seems unlikely that these terms could now be unilaterally altered by any Irish Government.
However, since the oil companies concerned are the principal beneficiaries of the find off the Mayo coast, it is entirely reasonable that they be required to spell out what benefits will accrue to this underdeveloped region arising from this significant gas find in Irish waters.
The Government that negotiated the deal that has given rise to the present controversy is remarkably silent on what economic benefit redounds to this economy. From my meeting with the Shell management, they argue that over the duration of the contract benefits will accrue but both the company and Government are remarkably unwilling to spell out that benefit.”
yes, because "benefits" = "common good" and "common good" = constitutional problems for the government and Shell, thats why we aren't hearing much about the "benefits" or the "common good"!!!
It is true that the men have to apologise to the court for their contempt in order to get released, so in that, Pat Rabbitte is not wrong - people shouldn't be offended by his statement. It's a technical, administrative internal issue pertaining to the court itself. The men are aware of this, and as far as I know, they actually have no problem whatsoever in apologising to the court, as they are law-abiding and do not wish to be in contempt of the court. However, it is imperative that Shell waive their proceedings first so that the five can apologise, knowing that their right to protect their homes has not been forfeited in the process.
The apologise bit just looks like a face saving measure for the state. The important bit is the waving of the injunction. If this 'compromise' was accepted it would be a big victory for the Rossport 5. The might apologise but they would be free to block Shell's pipeline construction in the future and it's hard to see the state locking them up a second time if they did.
At last Mr. Rabbitte speaks. I almost forgot he existed. It is entirely unfair that he pushes responsibility on the Rossport 5 to apologise.
They didn't breach an injunction as the injunction was flawed and therefore nul and void.
Labour members and activists must surely be dismayed by their leaders attempts at diplomacy.
Well, "apologising to the Court" and "purging your contempt" are two entirely different things. If I was in the mens situation, I would be prepared to apologise for HAVING to put myself in contempt of Court, but I would not be purging my contempt! I don't know why people expect any different from Pat Rabbitte, he's just doing what the rest of them are doing, playing party politics with the issue, talking in circles as usual.
In response to Mr. Rabbittee's suggestion that the Rossport 5 should apologise to the courts:
''It is entirely unfair to put any burden of responsibility on the 5 men. The solution to this crisis lies squarely with Shell and their government partners. The injunction must be dropped so dialogue can begin.''
In response to Mr. Rabbittee's suggestion that a mediator should be appointed by the government:
''The government are not neutral in this matter but are an active partner of Shell. Because of this the Irish government have disqualified themselves to appoint any mediator. To act neutrally or against it's own citizens goes against the primary duty of protection expected of any sovereign government. A small village in Ireland should never have been forced into a confrontation with a huge multinational corporate alliance such as Shell, Marathon and Statoil. It is time for the Irish government to redeem themselves by taking whatever actions are necessary to end the imprisonment of it's citizens and fulfil it's obligation of protection''.
For Comment or verification call Dr. Mark Garavan Spokesman ''Shell to Sea''
Can someone please explain why the injunction is flawed?
You have not been paying attention, Bill. Now if you would care to read the various articles on this site about this dispute, you would not need to ask questions. The information has been published already.