Irish Independent: Council uproar over gas pipe motion: “IN a dramatic twist at the end of a marathon Mayo Co Council meeting last night, the Cathaoirleach, Henry Kenny of Fine Gael overturned an earlier, unopposed motion calling on Shell to process the gas from the Corrib field offshore.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005

IN a dramatic twist at the end of a marathon Mayo Co Council meeting last night, the Cathaoirleach, Henry Kenny of Fine Gael overturned an earlier, unopposed motion calling on Shell to process the gas from the Corrib field offshore.

But later the proposer of the motion, Fianna Fail Cllr Tim Quinn insisted that his motion stood and he will be considering the legal implications of the Cathaoirleach's call.

Four hours after Erris-based Cllr Quinn had proposed the call for Shell to process the gas offshore, and the motion had been seconded, another Erris-based councillor, Gerry Coyle of Fine Gael sought clarification as to what motions had been agreed earlier concerning the Rossport Five.

This happened just as the meeting was about to end at 6pm and many councillors had already left. For 45 minutes the debate raged. It was agreed that the motion had been raised and was unopposed earlier, but it was argued that the Cathaoirleach had not said the words "This motion is resolved".

Then just before seven o'clock, the Cathaoirleach ruled on the matter. He said the motion to ask Shell to process the gas offshore was not resolved by him and so it did not stand.

Teresa O'Malley

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