Corrib gas deal should benefit the people

ON the first anniversary of the jailing of the Rossport Five it is important to reassert that the people of Ireland, especially Mayo, continue to campaign for Shell to be sent to sea and for a renegotiation of the Corrib gas deal to benefit the people of Ireland and not Shell and their friends in business and government.

We intend to raise this issue in the forthcoming general election.

The proposed Shell project in north Mayo is based on the cheapest way to maximise oil shareholders’ profits with near total disregard for the rights of the receiving communities, compounded by FF/PD/FG facilitation for the past six years. It adds regional environmental insult to national economic injury.

The total value of the Corrib gas field is estimated at around €45 billion, while the Dunquin gas field is estimated to be worth substantially more.

The oil and gas exploration scheme was changed in the 1980s by Dick Spring, Ray Burke and others when gas and oil prices were at historically low levels.

Now that the situation has changed it is time to renegotiate the schemes so that our natural resources are used to develop an unprecedented expansion of our public healthcare, education and transport infrastructure.

Maura Harrington

Davitt League

Doohomha

Ballina

Co Mayo

Rory Hearne

People Before Profit

Alliance

Department of Geography

Trinity College

Dublin 2