Mayo gas deal queried

THE GOVERNMENT will come under pressure in the Dáil today to explain the controversial circumstances surrounding a deal it struck with a major corporation to bring gas ashore from the coast of Co Mayo.

An investigation by Channel 4 News, broadcast last night, raised serious question marks over the State's plan for the controversial pipeline and inland terminal.

It claims there was pressure on locals to sign their property over to oil executives and that the terms of the deal struck with the Royal Dutch Shell Company were unprecedented in Europe.

The report revealed a memo from a planner in Co Mayo saying the then- Marine Minister Frank Fahey wanted to be on a planning committee while the project for Enterprise Energy Ireland now owned by Royal Dutch Shell - was processed. However, the minister never sat on the committee.

Other records unearthed in the investigation indicate there was substantial pressure from the Department of the Marine on Mayo County Council's planning committee.

Two of the companies involved in the Corrib Field also gave money to Fianna Fáil in 1998, but there is no suggestion Mr Fahey himself received a political donation.

Opposition parties yesterday said the Government had to outline the precise details of the deal it struck and to answer a number of the allegations arising from the documentary.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the memo regarding Minister Fahey's place on a planning committee would have amounted to "undue political interference" if it had gone ahead.

The Green Party's natural resources spokesman Eamon Ryan TD said there were a host of unanswered questions surrounding the entire deal.

"The real question which must be asked about this gas field project is this - is the Royal Dutch Shell deal a good deal for Mayo and a good deal for the Irish taxpayer?"

Sinn Féin's natural resources spokesman Martin Ferris said the handling of the project confirmed the worst suspicions of those who opposed it.

He said he will raise the issue in the Dáil today and demand an immediate debate surrounding the role of former Minster Frank Fahey.

The company, however, has defended its actions. It says the controversial path of a proposed gas line is the best possible option.

Channel 4 also claims the Government has given away natural resources to Royal Dutch Shell, with little of the gas revenue going back to Irish taxpayers.

This deal would be less advantageous for Ireland than a deal that the same company struck with Nigeria.

Ireland's natural resources have long been a source of controversy, with allegations flying that we give too much of our oil and gas away for free.