Shell to Sea Press Statement, November 13

Monday November 13, 2006 17:40

by Dr. Mark Garavan - Shell to Sea

Shell to Sea is calling for a ‘Solidarity Day’ in Bellanaboy on November 24th

The Shell to Sea campaign condemns the ongoing co-ordinated campaign to de-legitimise and criminalise local opposition to Shell’s project in Mayo. On last Friday, Gardai employed excessive violence against peaceful deminstrators causing scores of injuries and a number of hospitalisations. Government Ministers and the leader of Fine Gael have deliberately sought to create the impression that the campaign is orchestrated by sinister ‘outside’ forces. Sections of the media continue to propagate false and outrageous accusations.

All of this is designed to distract from the real issues. On November 6th we proposed a reasonable and viable means by which the Corrib gas conflict could be resolved. This proposal was rejected within hours by the Government and Shell. We deplore this failure to grasp a real opportunity.

We acknowledge the widespread welcome this proposal has received from the public and from all opposition parties with the exception of Fine Gael. It is now clear that Shell and the government do not wish to resolve this conflict but are instead determined to force this project through despite local opposition.

Contrary to the comments of the Taoiseach, Shell’s project has not been fully approved. There is still no agreed production pipeline route and no consents granted for any such new route. There is no operating licence agreed with the EPA for the gas processing plant at Bellanaboy. The European Commission has recently ruled that the Corrib project has breached the Habitat’s Directive.

The court case between Shell and some local landowners is still before the High Court and the many serious issues raised in that case have yet to be determined. Finally, the planning permission granted to Shell for the processing plant is suspect because of the company’s failure to notify the local authority of its proposal to ‘cold vent’ gas on the site.Finally, Shell to Sea is calling for a ‘Solidarity Day’ in Bellanaboy on November 24th and will be organising a National Rally in Dublin on December 2nd.

For verification please contact Mark Garavan 087-9023687

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Shell to Sea Press Statement, November 13