Protesters give cool reception to Corrib gas forum

ANTI-CORRIB gas pipeline protesters have given the latest Government bid to broker a deal in the bitter dispute a cool reception.

Ministers moved to end the deadlock with the creation of a community development forum to bring all sides together.

The long-running controversy has become increasingly tense in recent months with a hunger strike and paint-bomb attack on Shell by protesters.

The dispute exploded onto the national agenda three years ago with the jailing of five campaigners opposed to Shell running pipelines close to their homes full of gas from the Corrib seabed field.

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan and Community Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív have signalled they intend to take a more hands-on approach to the controversy, but failed to offer any fresh development money for the north-west Mayo area split by the dispute as they announced the forum.

Work on laying the Corrib gas pipeline is suspended, but is due to recommence next year, while construction work on the multi-million euro gas refinery site at Bellanaboy in north Mayo is continuing.

In the last high-profile Government intervention, trade unionist Peter Cassells tried unsuccessfully to broker a deal between Shell Ireland and its opponents three years ago.

It is estimated the field, 80km off the Mayo coast, has deposits worth more than €9 billion, which Mr Ryan said would bring some €1.7bn to the Exchequer over the next 20 years. Mr Ryan insisted everything would be on the forum table for discussion.

“The Government also has a duty to act in the best interests of the Irish people. For energy security of supply and economic development, I believe this project is in the national interest. The forum will work to secure local interests and engage with their concerns,” he said.

The Shell to Sea campaign’s Maura Harrington complained about lack of consultation ahead of the forum. “The first I heard about this was when my daughter phoned to tell me she had heard it on the radio. Once again the fatal mistake of not consulting with the very people concerned has been made.”

Pobaill Chill Chomain, a community group opposed to the location of the Bellanaboy refinery, insisted no subject must be off limits.

“The Bellanaboy location is the fundamental problem and has to be up for discussion,” a spokesman said.

The forum will be chaired by Joe Brosnan, a member of the North’s Independent Monitoring Commission.