There was a tense stand-off between protesters and gardaí today as a machine to tunnel under a picturesque bay was brought in by contractors for Shell.

About 100 construction and engineering jobs are being created on the controversial Corrib gas project.

Jerrie Ann Sullivan, one of the women who made a recording public in the Garda "rape tape" controversy, has said that the Garda Ombudsman investigation into the incident has been "about protecting An Garda Síochána".

The Garda watchdog has urged the force’s chief to take disciplinary action against one officer over an investigation into the “rape tape” controversy.

Fifteen people are due in Belmullet district court in Co Mayo later facing public order charges for protesting against the Corrib gas pipeline.

A member of the Shell to Sea group is refuting allegations by the Garda Ombudsman that one of the women embroiled in controversy over a tape recording of gardaí did not cooperate with the investigation.

Allegations that garda officers joked about raping two female protesters arrested at the controversial Shell gas project in Cor Mayo have been backed up by a video recording examined by the force’s watchdog.

The Justice Minister has indicated that a tape recording allegedly of gardaí making controversial remarks about female protestors at the Corrib gas site, may have been tampered with.

People opposed to the construction of Shell pipeline in Rossport, Co Mayo say they have been protesting for a decade, and are marking the occasion this weekend with a 'Party Against The Pipe'.

A demonstration by Shell to Sea campaigners will take place at 2pm today outside Belmullet Garda Station in County Mayo.

Protestors have gathered outside the Dáil this afternoon to demonstrate over remarks allegedly made by Gardaí about two women arrested near the Corrib gas site in Co Mayo last week.

The Deputy Leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald is calling for an investigation to be carried out into the conduct of Gardaí involved in the security operation at the Corrib gas site in Co. Mayo.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has tonight apologised on behalf of several officers who admitted joking about raping two women protesters in their custody.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has transferred the five gardaí involved in the Corrib tape controversy to indoor duties.

One of two women protesters at the centre of the alleged Garda "rape tape" controversy has gone public to demand an independent inquiry into the policing of the disputed Shell gas project.

The Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has re-emphasised the importance of combining professionalism with sensitivity and compassion in the investigation of sexual crimes.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Amnesty, the Council for Civil Liberties and One in Four have all condemned comments allegedly made by gardaí in Co Mayo, in which they allegedly joked about threatening to rape a female anti-Shell protestor who had been arrested.

The Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte has described reports of alleged garda misconduct at the Corrib gas pipeline in Mayo as "unedifying".

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has begun an investigation into allegations regarding garda conduct in the west of Ireland.

A senior officer from outside the Mayo region has been appointed to examine remarks alleged to have been made by two Gardaí about two women who were arrested in Co Mayo last week.

Shell has been granted a foreshore licence in connection with the construction of the final section of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo.

Twenty-two TDs gathered at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin today to call on the Government to overturn consents granted by former Minister Pat Carey to Shell E&P Ireland on the day of the recent General Election.

Up to 20 TDs, along with Dublin Shell to Sea are today calling on the new Government to reverse consents granted to Shell for the onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline.

The High Court has said it will hear opposing arguments from the State and An Bord Pleanala before deciding whether to grant leave to An Taisce and two Co Mayo residents to bring judicial review actions aimed at quashing permission for the gas pipeline linked to the Corrib gas field.

Members of Dublin Shell to Sea will be on Grafton Street in Dublin today distributing "commemorative bank notes" to highlight issues around Ireland's oil and gas resources.

The final section of the Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo has been given the go-ahead.

Four Shell to Sea campaigners have chained themselves to the stairwells inside the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in Dublin.

Police chiefs tonight defended operations at the controversial Corrib gas project after a human rights body accused officers of acting unlawfully, failing to take protesters seriously and claimed a Superintendent misled the public.

Shell has asked for more time to resolve its Corrib gas pipeline issues.

Energy giant Shell has been told to re-route part of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline after planners today ruled it posed a safety risk.

An Bord Pleanála has deferred a final decision in relation to planning for the Corrib gas pipeline.

Two leading Corrib gas activists were today jailed for four months after participating in demonstrations against energy giant Shell’s controversial project.

Gardaí in Co Mayo are investigating an incident yesterday afternoon in which paint was thrown at Minister of State Dara Calleary’s car.

Gardaí in Co Mayo have arrested nine people during ongoing protests against the controversial Corrib gas pipeline scheme.

A massive security operation was under way in Co Mayo today as work on the final stages of energy giant Shell’s bitterly disputed gas refinery began.

Controversial pipe-laying work is due to begin in Broadhaven Bay in Co Mayo today as part of the Corrib gas project.

A small Irish coastal community was gripped in a massive security operation tonight to allow final offshore work to begin on energy giant Shell’s bitterly disputed gas refinery.

The world's largest pipe-laying ship, the Solitaire, is due in Broadhaven Bay in north Mayo later today as part of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline project.

A fisherman has been taken to hospital following a rescue operation by the Ballyglass Lifeboat off the Co Mayo coast this morning.

Energy giant Shell today strongly denied any involvement in the alleged sinking of a trawler carrying protesters opposed to its controversial new gas terminal in Ireland.

An Bord Pleanála is due to begin an oral hearing today into some of the outstanding planning issues related to Shell's controversial Corrib gas project.

Gardaí made a series of arrests after a stand-off with protestors at the Shell to Sea site in Mayo last night.

Gardaí and environmentalists have clashed tonight at the site of a controversial gas pipeline on the west coast of Ireland.

There is a strong Garda presence at the Shell site in Co Mayo this evening as hundreds of protestors from the Shell to Sea group plan to descend on the facility at Glengad beach.