56 jobs to go at Rossport pipeline site

A total of 56 jobs are to be axed at the site of a controversial gas pipeline on the Mayo coast, it was confirmed today.

Petroleum giant Shell revealed the cuts were being made on top of 35 lay-offs announced earlier this week.

The staff were involved in engineering and land works on the 70km pipeline running from the Corrib gas field to a proposed terminal at Bellanaboy.

Mark Carrigy, operations manager for Shell EP Ireland, claimed protesters had been obstructing non-pipeline work and as a result the sub-contractors were forced to cut employee numbers.

But protesters, who are totally opposed to the €300m terminal near Rossport and believe the gas should be refined at sea, have been angered after a dredger appeared in Broadhaven Bay earlier in the week.

The local people, who gathered at a number of sites in the area to demonstrate against the pipeline, claimed it was proof that Shell were determined to continue work on the line and attempted to block onshore works.

The job losses come as five men jailed over their protests against the pipeline – brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, Micheal O’Seighin, Willie Corduff and Brendan Philbin – were completing their fifth week behind bars.

Following a meeting with the landowners in Cloverhill Prison, Green Party TDs John Gormley and Eamon Ryan called for an immediate end to all works on the site until a safety review is finished.

Reports have suggested the Solitaire, the world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, would arrive in Broadhaven Bay in the next two weeks to begin laying the off-shore section of the pipe.

A spokesman for Shell said the company currently had an option on the vessel but had not taken out the option.