Press statement, November 13th
The Shell to Sea campaign condemns the ongoing co-ordinated campaign to
de-legitimise and criminalise local opposition to Shell's project in Mayo.

On last Friday, Gardai employed excessive violence against peaceful
demonstrators causing scores of injuries and a number of
hospitalisations. Government Ministers and the leader of Fine Gael have
deliberately sought to create the impression that the campaign is
orchestrated by sinister 'outside' forces. Sections of the media continue
to propagate false and outrageous accusations.
All of this is designed to distract from the real issues. On November 6th
we proposed a reasonable and viable means by which the Corrib gas
conflict could be resolved. This proposal was rejected within hours by
the Government and Shell. We deplore this failure to grasp a real
opportunity.

We acknowledge the widespread welcome this proposal has received from the
public and from all opposition parties with the exception of Fine Gael.
It is now clear that Shell and the government do not wish to resolve this
conflict but are instead determined to force this project through despite
local opposition.

Contrary to the comments of the Taoiseach, Shell's project has not been
fully approved. There is still no agreed production pipeline route and no
consents granted for any such new route. There is no operating licence
agreed with the EPA for the gas processing plant at Bellanaboy. The
European Commission has recently ruled that the Corrib project has
breached the Habitat's Directive.

The court case between Shell and some local landowners is still before
the High Court and the many serious issues raised in that case have yet
to be determined.

The planning permission granted to Shell for the processing plant is
suspect because of the company's failure to notify the local authority of
its proposal to 'cold vent' gas on the site.

Finally, Shell to Sea is calling for a 'Solidarity Day' in Bellanaboy on
November 24th and will be organising a National Rally in Dublin on
December 2nd.

Dr. Mark Garavan