Refinery protesters to make parade statement

Shell to Sea campaigners will take part in the annual Irish/Norwegian community’s Dublin parade today.

The activists, who are protesting against the controversial Mayo refinery, are applauding how well the Norwegian Government treats its citizens.

Through its ownership of Statoil, the Scandinavian state will profit from 25% of the Corrib gas field.

But campaigners claim the Norwegian government would not inflict such a refinery on its own people because of health and safety concerns.

“The people of Ireland will see no lasting benefit from the exploitation of their oil and gas, but the government of Norway has managed to make sure that that oil and gas revenues will help that country long into the future,” said activist Micheal O Seighin.

“What people find difficult to understand is why money from Irish resources should form part of that revenue, and how it can make economic sense for the Irish government to give away the Corrib gas field which is worth billions of euro.”

The Shell to Sea campaigners will join the parade at 10.45am as it passes Trinity college.