It’s time the politicians reflected the opposition to ‘thoroughly discredited’ gas project

THE recent announcement by An Bord Pleanála of the dangers of the proposed Corrib gas pipeline has drawn attention to very serious issues, and not before time.

Thirteen years after the Corrib discovery was announced, the development of that one-time national resource is as far away as ever and the fault lies squarely with Shell, Statoil and their silent and not-so-silent partners.

How much longer is this thoroughly discredited project going to be propped up by oil money, hollow press announcements, hired heavies, freak-show media reports, bonus-seeking gardaí and a government that has continually failed its people.

It is high time our elected representatives started doing just that, representing the people who placed them in high office to look after our affairs, instead of pandering to every whim expressed by big business seeking private gain.

The fact that the chosen Corrib project poses a grave risk to the public is nothing new to the residents of Kilcommon parish who have collectively suffered – much more than a democracy should tolerate – as a result of their stance against the clear dangers posed, and many people have joined in that stance.

Ministers Ryan and O Cuiv must end the expensive and futile “forum” that has merely prolonged the agony for all concerned … and Shell should stop messing around with people’s lives.

You can’t put a price on safety, but more importantly, you shouldn’t even try.

John Monaghan

Pollathomas

Co Mayo