IrelandOn-Line: Rabbitte calls on shell to free ‘Rossport Five’: “Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte today called Shell on to waive the injunction against the ‘Rossport Five’ by lifting a High Court injunction against them.”: Sunday 24 July 2005

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte today called Shell on to waive the injunction against the ‘Rossport Five’ by lifting a High Court injunction against them.

The five Mayo men have spent a month in prison for blocking the construction of an offshore pipeline near their home.

However, Communications Minister Noel Dempsey said yesterday that Shell may have breached the terms laid down by the Government when granting permission for the project.

“In light of yesterday’s statement by the minister that the energy giant may have breached the terms of the permission given for developing the pipeline, things should be resolved by Shell going to court next week to have the injunction lifted,” said Mr Rabbitte.

Mr Dempsey said on Saturday that he has written to the company asking them to respond to his “very serious” concerns.

The breaches may relate to the welding of large sections of pipeline on the Corrib Gas terminal site, according to sources.

Up to 2,000 people staged a protest in Dublin on Saturday at the jailing of the five landowners.

Meanwhile, the Green Party tonight called for Mr Dempsey and his officials to appear before an emergency meeting of the Oireachtas Communications Committee.

Energy spokesperson Eamon Ryan said: “It is clear that the department has serious questions to answer concerning its own failure to ensure that conditions stipulated as part of its first initial consent to Shell were properly observed.

“It also needs to explain what appears to be the obstructionist and secretive manner in which it has dealt with issues raised by local residents in Rossport.”

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=150528378&p=y5x5z9x84

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