Irish Emigrant Online (Ireland): No resolution to Shell dispute: “Earlier in the week it was reported that Shell has yet to comply with July's ministerial order to dismantle a section of the Corrib Gas pipeline which had been welded together without the proper Government consent.”: Monday 26 September 2005
The Rossport Five remain in Cloverhill Prison while the war of words continues between the Shell Oil company and their supporters.
Opponents of the gas processing station in northwest Mayo took their battle to Norway, the home of Statoil which has a 37% stake in the Corrib gas field. During their visit independent TD Dr Jerry Cowley and relatives of the Rossport Five were told by Statoil's senior vice-president, Helge Hatlestad, "Statoil would never embark on such a project without taking sufficient safety considerations. We are fully confident in the safety of the pipeline and the project". A local Labour MP, however, said, "We cannot have such a big company having an argument with our friends in Ireland". Tore Nordton also said that in Norway such conflicts were avoided through close consultation with the local community and by dealing with safety issues before the planning stage. On his return to Dublin Dr Cowley described the visit as a great success as it had received widespread coverage in the Norwegian media.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Shell has yet to comply with July's ministerial order to dismantle a section of the Corrib Gas pipeline which had been welded together without the proper Government consent. A spokesman for the company blamed protesters, who have been restricting access to the Shell site. Dr Mark Garavan of the Shell to Sea campaign said, however, that the company had never requested access to the site for this purpose and that such a request would be granted.
In another development Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey is to hold a two-day public hearing on the onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline but this has been criticised by the Shell to Sea campaign. A spokesman complained of the limited duration and the terms of reference, which were considered too narrow. The hearing was described as the minister's attempt to give the "illusion" of consultation.
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