Press Release: Shell to Sea Will Not Attend Today's Forum for Development in Northwest Mayo

For immediate release
1AM, Friday 5th December 2008

Shell to Sea will not attend the Forum for Development in North West Mayo because of its refusal to deal with the manner in which the existing consents for the Corrib Gas Project were given to Shell. This event should not be called a Forum as attendance is by invitation only.

The Ministers have refused to address the substantive issues involved which are:

* Building a refinery within the catchment area of our regional water supply.
* The imposition of Shell's raw gas pipeline upon a non-consenting community
* The continued giveaway of our oil & gas to private companies, at a time of great public need.

Instead Shell to Sea will attend a People's Forum also to be held in Broadhaven Bay at 10am on Friday 5th of December. The People's Forum will be open to the public, to discuss their views on the Corrib Gas Project.

Shell to Sea would wholeheartedly welcome any open forum if it was willing to deal with Corrib Gas Project in its totality. Shell to Sea also object to the pressure various community & development groups in the area have been put under to take part in the Government sponsored event.

Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington stated "While Minister Eamon Ryan accepted that undoubted mistakes have been made in relation to this project, it seems that he doesn't want these mistakes to be discussed and corrected. This forum is not allowed to address the health concerns of the people of the area, the unsuitability of Bellanaboy as a refinery site or the great giveaway of our gas and oil".

Ms Harrington continued "This media event tries to intrinsically link Shell's Corrib Gas with the proper and sustainable development of the North West Mayo region, not only is no link possible, they are mutually exclusive".

Terence Conway stated "We have been seeking proper dialogue for 8 years now, and the only dialogue the Government have sent our way, is the boot and the baton of An Garda Siochana. The local community has been raising the issue of Shell polluting the local water supply for over 3 years, and yet State authorities are turning a blind eye to all Shell breaches of environmental law."

Hermes wrote:

Terence Conway stated "We have been seeking proper dialogue for 8 years now,

And when they are offered it they turn it down.

I used to respect and support Shell-to-Sea.

Hermes wrote:

Shell to Sea will not attend the Forum for Development in North West Mayo because of its refusal to deal with the manner in which the existing consents for the Corrib Gas Project were given to Shell.

The existing planning permission can't be changed.
What was granted can't be ungranted.

Oh that's on right now. Are you going to it Hermes ?

eoinmn wrote:

Hermes wrote:

Terence Conway stated "We have been seeking proper dialogue for 8 years now,

And when they are offered it they turn it down.

I used to respect and support Shell-to-Sea.

It wasn't offered.

It's like having a meeting about the war with a precondition whereby you're not allowed to mention the war. This is a damage limitation/propaganda exercise on behalf of Shell and their government shills.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Oh that's on right now. Are you going to it Hermes ?

I was meant to be attending. Unfortunately circumstances conspired against me earlier this morning that prevented that from happening. Tis a pity, I've a feeling that it's going to be very interesting.

This report is from Breaking News:

Quote :

The Government’s promise of a talks forum to resolve bitter disputes over the controversial Corrib gas project descended into chaos today. As the first hearing began behind closed doors, opponents of the North Mayo Shell development boycotted the meeting and instead organised their own get-together next door.

Shell to Sea accused Energy Minister Eamon Ryan of refusing to tackle mistakes made in the eight-year long battle to open the off-shore gas field and coastal refinery. Spokeswoman Maura Harrington, who this year held a 10-day hunger strike over the project, claimed the forum would not address the real concerns.

“While Minster Eamon Ryan accepted that undoubted mistakes have been made in relation to this project, it seems that he doesn’t want these mistakes to be discussed and corrected,” she said. “This forum is not allowed to address the health concerns of the people of the area, the unsuitability of Bellanaboy as a refinery site or the great give-away of our gas and oil. This media event tries to intrinsically link Shell’s Corrib Gas with the proper and sustainable development of the North West Mayo region. Not only is no link possible, they are mutually exclusive.”

The first meeting of the Government-backed forum was held behind closed doors in a Belmullet hotel by invitation only.

Mr Ryan and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv attended the meeting and insisted the Shell development would go ahead as planned. Anti-Corrib campaigners Pobal Cill Comainn and Pobal Le Cheile refused to join the forum while the most vocal opponents Shell to Sea organised their own meeting next door.
Former senior civil servant Joe Brosnan – a member of Northern Ireland’s paramilitary watchdog, the Independent Monitoring Commission – heads up the forum. Managing director of Shell E&P Ireland Terry Nolan also attended.

An Garda Siochana, which is the focus of numerous complaints over its handling of demonstrations, and several Government departments will be involved in the talks. Local community groups, Shell and workers’ representatives, Mayo County Council and some state agencies will also be asked to take part.

Shell to Sea’s Terence Conway added: “We have been seeking proper dialogue for eight years now, and the only dialogue the Government have sent our way, is the boot and the baton of An Garda Siochana.”

Mr Ryan also claimed Corrib would help turn north Mayo into an energy hub for the country. “Ireland has some of the best ocean and wind resources in the world and North West Mayo has the best resources in Ireland,” the minister said. “Renewable and gas energy go hand in hand. I believe that development of these resources will bring long term and sustainable economic development to Mayo.”

These are lovely words, but what is the quantified, feasibility tested energy plan for Ireland? Is the necessary work to the grid going to be done?

cactus flower wrote:

Eamon Ryan said: "Renewable and gas energy go hand in hand."

I don't know what that means.

cactus flower wrote:

Maura Harrington said "This forum is not allowed to address the health concerns of the people
of the area, the unsuitability of Bellanaboy as a refinery site or the
great give-away of our gas and oil."

Harrington is living in the past. That contract can't be renegotiated now. Sad, I know, but true.

eoinmn wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Eamon Ryan said: "Renewable and gas energy go hand in hand."

I don't know what that means.

cactus flower wrote:

Maura Harrington said "This forum is not allowed to address the health concerns of the people
of the area, the unsuitability of Bellanaboy as a refinery site or the
great give-away of our gas and oil."

Harrington is living in the past. That contract can't be renegotiated now. Sad, I know, but true.

True, but taxes and levies can be changed.

cactus flower wrote:

True, but taxes and levies can be changed.

Does this new tax he introduced in January apply to Corrib? (I've a feeling it doesn't)
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/New+oil+and+gas+tax+in+Finance+Bill.htm
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0801/environment.html

Very good article published by Niall Harnett - HERE.

It deals with what occurred at the 'People's Forum' which was hosted in a separate room to the Government's 'by invitation only event,' in the same hotel.

There's an interesting video included which I've embedded here: