Rossport challenge to Dempsey

AS a spokesperson for the Shell to Sea group in Co Mayo, I have commented publicly many times on various aspects of the proposed Corrib gas project, predominantly in relation to site works at Bellanaboy and associated environmental issues.

I have been in constant contact with the local authority on issues relating to the project, and was part of the Irish contingent that visited Oslo to meet with union representatives, Statoil executives and Norwegian parliamentarians.

I have attended numerous sittings of the High Court relating to the Rossport Five and visited those men in Cloverhill Prison on many occasions with my wife whose father, Micheal Ó Séighin, was one of those imprisoned.

My wife and I have lived in Rossport for the past four years.

We are neighbours of Rossport campaigners Brendan Philbin and his family; we are a short distance from Willie and Mary Corduff and their children, as well as Philip and Vincent McGrath and their families.

We are 150metres from the Shell construction compound in the village and 70metres from the proposed pipeline route. We would have to pass within 30m of the pipeline to go to the local shop and post office and 1.2m when visiting family and friends.

We attend weekly Shell to Sea meetings in Glenamoy, to which Energy Minister Noel Dempsey has been invited several times, but refused to attend. The invitation still stands.

The minister’s recent comment he was being “intimidated” by “anonymous groups” like Shell to Sea are sadly misplaced when coming from someone whose job it is to be well informed on the Corrib gas project.

The only people who can be “intimidated” by peaceful protest and reasoned debate are those who don’t recognise either of those concepts.

Surely it would be far better if the minister were to visit us at any time to discuss the truth of the matter instead of spouting abuse at us from afar.

John Monaghan

Rossport South

Ballina

Co Mayo