Shelltosea Mediator Clarification

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Tuesday November 01, 2005 13:01 by Ed - shelltosea emoran at vodafone dot ie

Misleading Media Report

Minister Dempsey's handling of the mediator appointment allowed a very distorted picture of the process to result. There are many questions to be asked as yet in this regard.

Press Release
9.00 a.m. 1St November, 2005


Shelltosea Core Group Meeting: Monday 31th October, 2005.

Present: Maura Harrington, Brid McGarry, Caitlin Ni Sheighin: Brendan Philbin, Willie & Mary Corduff, Vincent and Mairin McGrath, Philip McGrath, Neil King, Werner & Chris Blau, Ed Moran. Miceal O Seighin was represented by his wife Caitlin, as above.

The meeting considered in detail the Irish Times report Sat. 28th October regarding
appointment of mediator and resolved that clarification of its content was needed as a matter of urgency as follows:

* While Shelltosea welcomed the Minister’s prompt response to their call on Monday 23rd Oct. for progress on appointment of a mediator, the manner of that response is (most) unacceptable.

* Coming within three days (Thurs. 26th Oct.) of their call, it listed five names chosen by the Minister without any prior input by, or consultation with, Shelltosea.

* It allowed only 24 hours consideration by Shelltosea before the Minister announced (Fri. 27th Oct.) that a mediator had been selected but that announcement would be deferred for a further 24 hours.

* The Minister stated at interview on Mid West Radio on that Friday that the list had been communicated to both sides ten days earlier. This is contrary to the facts.

* The appointment of a mediator without publishing the Terms of Reference is entirely unsatisfactory, being as it is devoid of context.

* Likewise, failure to provide any guidelines in respect to a modus operandi for agreeing a time-frame and method of proceeding is indicative of a hasty and inconsiderate response to Shelltosea’s call for progress.


Further Clarification contact:

Mark Garavan 087 9023687

and/or

Ed Moran 087 6499767