Minister's committee appearance must include for Rossport 5 discussion

national | miscellaneous | press release

Saturday September 17, 2005 14:44

by Labour

STATEMENT BY TOMMY BROUGHAN TD

Labour Spokesperson on Energy, Deputy Tommy Broughan, has welcomed the agreement by Minister Noel Dempsey to finally appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Communication, Marine and Natural Resources (CMNR) on the Corrib gas pipeline project but has urged that a discussion on the ongoing imprisonment of the ‘Rossport 5’ be included in the hearing.

MINISTER’S COMMITTEE APPEARANCE MUST INCLUDE FULL ‘ROSSPORT 5’ DISCUSSION
Labour Spokesperson on Energy, Deputy Tommy Broughan, has welcomed the agreement by Minister Noel Dempsey to finally appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Communication, Marine and Natural Resources (CMNR) on the Corrib gas pipeline project but has urged that a discussion on the ongoing imprisonment of the ‘Rossport 5’ be included in the hearing.

Deputy Broughan commented, “I have been calling on Minister Dempsey to attend a Committee hearing on this issue since the beginning of the summer, and therefore welcome news that he will finally attend. However, the five Rossport citizens have now spent 80 days in prison because of their health and safety fears surrounding this project. It is unbelievable, and frankly quite ridiculous, that the CMNR Committee would hold discussions next week on the “process, structure and management” of the Corrib pipeline development but banish all mention of the five imprisoned men.

“The Committee’s Chairperson has argued that while the men are in contempt of court issues relating to their imprisonment cannot be discussed. But securing the release of the five imprisoned Rossport citizens must surely be the first priority of the CMNR and its Chairperson.

“For that reason I have continually requested a full hearing of the Corrib issue over the past two months by this Committee. The meeting should therefore also include the families of the Rossport 5, Shell and Statoil management and representatives of the Shell to Sea campaign. What Chairperson Noel O’Flynn is now doing is in effect organising a performance of Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.”

For more information contact Tommy Broughan at 087 288 0777

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Comments (6 of 6)

Me Likey

by rastignac

Sat Sep 17, 2005 18:28

"Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark". Very good. I like it

Committe Members

by Tom Ryan

Sat Sep 17, 2005 16:59

Each member should be asked if they favour a discussion of the men's continued lock-up at the request of sHell.

Noel O’Flynn FF
Martin Brady FF
Dermot Fitzpatrick FF
Peter Kelly FF
Thomas Mc Ellistrim FF
Denis O Donovan FF
Brendan kenneally FF
Mark Mc Sharry FF
Rohan Lenihan FF

Brendan Durkan FG
John Perry FG
Michael Finucane FG

Tom Broughan LAB
Kathleen O’Meara LAB

Martin Ferris SF

Noel O’Flynn says that the 5 cannot be discussed because they are in contempt of court.

Is this correct?

How do these committees work?

Is it majority decision?

Can someone fill us in?

Perhaps a man like Martin Ferris could be more vocal as he knows what it’s like to stare at the 4 walls.

Anyway all of the above should be asked to say what they think on this issue especially the poets.

Sligo people are entitled to comment on the Rossport affair

by Joe

Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:08

The fact that the Labour party in Sligo had pushed for the Bord Gais network to be extended to Sligo/Mayo and Leitrim gives them teh right to comment on this issue. It's their gas too!

As far i know Cllr. Bree is probably the closest Labour public rep to Mayo and one of a hand full of labour councillors west of the shannon and definitly the only ex-Labour TD in Connacht.

Also the point here is whether his comments differ from the party leadership?

Labour Lackey or Ex - Labour Lackey: That is the question

by Mad Mullah

Sat Sep 17, 2005 01:29

Soon to be - Ex Labour Lackey

rossport five are not an election platform.

by guydebordisdead

Fri Sep 16, 2005 21:37

who cares what some random labour lacky said?
what is he actually going to do about it?

Labour Cllr. calls for Shell to cease all operations and refine the gas at sea

by PatCarey - lp

Fri Sep 16, 2005 20:05

Leitrim

More than 400 people marched through the streets of Sligo last Saturday in support for the Rossport Five. Addressing the rally local Labour Councillor Ald. Declan Bree claimed that the jailing of the five men for contempt of court had once again brought into sharp focus the vast natural resources off our coast, as well as on land.
"The Rossport five are honorable men full of integrity. They were dragged before the High Court because they were not content to allow a major multinational company put a highly pressurised pipeline for untreated gas close to their homes with the consequent risk of explosion to themselves, their families and their communities," he said.

Clr. Bree told the rally it was "outrageous that these five men remained in prison for merely seeking to protect their homes and communities against the unknown and un-quantified danger from the construction of the Shell gas pipeline.

"The reality in Ireland today is that foreign transnational corporations like Shell own all the natural resources of our country. The Irish people get little or no return from the exploitation of these valuable and increasingly scarce resources. Already the Kinsale gas field is almost depleted.

"Earlier this year the government issued new exclusive licences for exploiting new areas of Irish territorial waters off the northwest coast. According to all accounts, Shell will have secured additional licences to further exploit and explore for oil and gas.

"The history leading up to the imprisonment of the Rossport Five is one of a so-called sovereign Government bending over backwards to facilitate the pillage of this country's oil and gas wealth by big business." Alderman Bree said.

"Profit maximisation is of course the reason why Shell wants to build such a pipeline, unprecedented anywhere else in the world, rather than the more costly alternative of an offshore processing facility.

"Shell plans to exploit the gas reserve off the Mayo coast as cheaply as possible and then sell it back to the Irish people for as high a price as if it were coming from Russia or anywhere else in the world." said Alderman Bree.

"We must ensure that Shell and E&P Ireland cease all operations in Erris, both onshore and offshore, pending a full investigation into the Corrib gas project as a whole, particularly in terms of the health and safety of the local residents in Rossport and the surrounding areas, and that it be agreed to refine the gas at sea.

"And above all we must show our solidarity with those five courageous North Mayo men and their families and neighbors who hail from a gallant community, which has resisted overlords since the days of Michael Davitt." Clr. Bree concluded.

THE SLIGO CHAMPION

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Minister's committee appearance must include for Rossport 5 discussion

Comments (6 of 6)