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Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.

offsite link Army Sergeant Travis Decker Murdered His Three Children After Being Denied Mental Health Care at JBL... Sat Jun 07, 2025 04:52 | JBLM Whistleblowers
A corrupt military police force and incompetent Commander who denied emergency mental health care and crisis counseling to an American service member resulted in the murder of the sergeant's three young daughters

offsite link Gaza doctor grieves her nine children killed in Israeli strike Sun May 25, 2025 20:00 | imc
Israeli regime continues it's slaughter
'The children were completely charred'

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offsite link British doctors working in Gaza describe territory as a ?slaughterhouse? Sat May 24, 2025 00:23 | imc
There?s no food getting in so people are starving,? surgeon Tom Potokar says
British doctors working in Gaza have described the territory as a ?slaughterhouse,? where the patients they are treating are severely malnourished.

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offsite link It is time to talk about the Out of Control Immigration. Mon Mar 31, 2025 22:12 | imc
For the last few years since the CV19 scamdemic undocumented immigration into Ireland has surged. No one is allowed discuss it because they do not want any rational debate about it. If you do you are labelled an extremist. However this out of control immigration is fully facilitated by the Irish government and the EU and the shady figure behind the Neo Con movement pushing for endless war, wokeism and globalist agenda.

offsite link [Dublin] National Demonstration for Palestine: End Israeli Apartheid & Genocide Thu Mar 06, 2025 22:35 | ipsc
Sat, 22 March 2025, 13:00 Assemble at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin 1
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, supported by over 150 Irish civil society organisations, has called another National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 22nd March.

The march will begin at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm and finish outside the D?il on Molesworth Street/Kildare Street to bring our demands to the Irish government?s doorstep.

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link ?Muhammad? Tops Baby Name Charts Again Thu Jul 31, 2025 13:00 | Richard Eldred
Muhammad is once again the most popular baby name for boys in England and Wales, in a year marked by a growing trend towards global, cross-cultural naming.
The post ?Muhammad? Tops Baby Name Charts Again appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link White House Warns Starmer: Stop Threatening US Tech Companies? Free Speech Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:00 | Toby Young
It looks increasingly likely that the sweeping censorship powers granted to Ofcom by the Online Safety Act will be raised in US-UK trade talks, as the Trump administration becomes increasingly concerned.
The post White House Warns Starmer: Stop Threatening US Tech Companies? Free Speech appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Mainstream Naysayers Gather As Hopes Rise for Fourth Year of Record Coral on the Great Barrier Reef Thu Jul 31, 2025 09:00 | Chris Morrison
Despite three record years of coral growth, the mainstream media keeps pushing doom and gloom on the Great Barrier Reef ? a story that doesn't quite add up, says the Daily Sceptic's Environment Editor.
The post Mainstream Naysayers Gather As Hopes Rise for Fourth Year of Record Coral on the Great Barrier Reef appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Unless Migrant Crime Is Happening to Them Personally, Many Brits Simply Refuse to Believe It Even Ex... Thu Jul 31, 2025 07:00 | Steven Tucker
Britain's migrant crimewave is only invisible to those living in leafy delusion ? just ask Steven Tucker, who rips into the blind elites mistaking burning mattresses for cultural enrichment.
The post Unless Migrant Crime Is Happening to Them Personally, Many Brits Simply Refuse to Believe It Even Exists ? Especially Our Blinkered Rulers appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link News Round-Up Thu Jul 31, 2025 00:51 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Valentine’s Day - Shell 2 Sea picket outside the Dail

category dublin | anti-capitalism | event notice author Monday February 11, 2008 18:32author by Shell 2 Sea Report this post to the editors

To mark Valentine’s Day come join Shell 2 Sea highlight the sweetheart deal that Bertie & Co have given to the oil companies.
Bertie & Andy Pyle - The love that dare not speak its name
Bertie & Andy Pyle - The love that dare not speak its name

On Thursday 14th Feb member of Shell to Sea will hold a protest outside the Dail to highlight the outrageous “sweetheart deal” that corrupt politicians (ie. Ray Burke & Bertie Ahern) have given to the oil and gas companies looking to drill off the coast of Ireland.
A bus from Bellanaboy will arrive at the Dail at 12 noon. Please come and let Bertie & Co know that you don’t accept their dodgy dealings.

A brief look at the deal is:

In 1975, then Minister for Industry and Commerce Justin Keating introduced licensing terms for oil and gas exploration. Included in these terms was the ability for Ireland to take a maximum of 50% stake in any find and production royalties of between 8-16% and production bonuses depending on the size of the find.

In 1987, then Minister for Energy Ray Burke began negotiating with the oil and gas companies who were looking for more favourable licensing terms. These negotiations included Ray Burke meeting with the oil & gas executives alone, with his department officials being excluding from the meetings. The real question remains unanswered "What happened at these meetings"?

In April 1987, Ray Burke told the Dail that he was considering changing the licensing terms: "I will ensure that no obstacle is left in the way of exploration in our offshore". Then on the 30th September 1987, Ray Burke announced his changes. These included abolishing the option for the State to take a stake in any find off our coast, exempting any royalty payments, a 100% tax write-off against profits on investment for exploration, development and production. However even Ray Burke chose to leave the corporation tax at 50% saying that it would be "over-generous" to reduce this tax further. However this recommendation didn't stop Bertie Ahern from halving the oil industry corporation tax, five years later.
Dick Spring has previous called the Ray Burke changes “an act of economic treason”
So this basically means that companies are being given free access to the potentially massive natural resources off the coast of Ireland. Then Ireland has to buy its own oil and gas back off the companies for full market price.

Related Link: http://www.shelltosea.com

Valentines Day
Valentines Day

author by Shellypublication date Tue Feb 12, 2008 15:06author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You forgot to mention Irish exploration track record of 1 well in 50 being commercially viable. Given that drilling for a well offshore carries a multi-million euro investment with no returns if the well is a duster, its little wonder the Irish government introduced those licensing terms. It makes perfect sense to anyone that is not hell bent on courting the media at every turn to further their own narrow minded ends!

I would like to hear a retort to my argument that can rebuke the poor exploration track record, not one that is loaded with anti-capitalist dogma. I doubt that is possible here though.

author by Shell-y indeedpublication date Tue Feb 12, 2008 16:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Maybe you've been living on mars for the last few years so you may have missed the rush of major oil companies trying to get a piece of the action from the government give-away of licences off the West and NW coasts,not to mention the recent majour finds of hydrocarbons in the Celtic sea by a consortium led by Tony O'Reilly. Prospecting around the irish coasts is driven by the international price of oil on the markets hence all the activity in recent years around our coast. Sadly thanx to the shamefull giveaway of these multi-billion euros resources the irish people will get all the disadvanteges of this dirty industry as opposed to the benefits will be exclusivly reaped by the likes of Shell and the Norwegian public.

PS - The new frontier for oil and gas exploaration is the Rockall basin hence the made rush by other countries such as Norway, Iceland and britain to claim it.

author by Shellypublication date Tue Feb 12, 2008 16:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

And how many companies would "rush" to drill off Irish waters had the old licensing terms still applied? I'd say none of them would.

Any oil and gas exploration carries with it an element of risk, couple that with the track record for successful finds in Irish waters you see a situation developing that requires incentives. Otherwise, NOBODY WOULD DRILL!

The Rockall basin is only viable now due to the inflated oil price and advances in technology. Now that all these companies are prospecting, do you suggest that the Government move the goalposts and renege on the old terms? Introduce levies like the ones from 1975? I tell you what, it would be economic suicide. Ireland is totally reliant on outside investment. Loss of confidence in that sector would cripple the economy. Of course people like you can't see that can you. Narrow minded luddites, living in a communist fantasy land!

author by Erris Exilepublication date Tue Feb 12, 2008 17:29author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Despite the price of oil hovering around the magical $100 per barrel no-one is rushing to drill offshore Ireland, despite your claim that Ireland is giving away its resources for nothing. The Rockall Trough is still deemed too risky for prospectors - even if something was found technology would be at its limits to bring it ashore (and if something is found I can guarantee you it will not be brought ashore Ireland - an FPSO and tanker offloadings will look after it that's for sure). All exploration wells to date have yielded condensate and not oil. if it wasn't for Enterprise Oil striking Corrib offshore Mayo the only strike to date would have been Marathon's. And to date it remains that way, as Corrib is not yet developed. And what about BP's claims in the Connemara Basin 300 miles offshore Galway in the early 90s - we don't see them rushing back in to have another look at that, do we despite the oil bonanza. Offshore Ireland is, and will remain for some time to come, persona non grata in the oil and gas community. There is no rush to do anything despite various licensing rounds by the DCMNR.

And as for the major finds by the O'Reilly led consortium in the Celtic Sea and elsewhere - get real. That statement is laughable. Those finds are totally insignificant and are basically water producers. Look at what happened to the Seven Heads Development from RAMCO. Those finds are NOT major. And as for the hype of all the hydrocarbons lying offshore SW Ireland waiting to be tapped - you're talking about prospects that are yet unproven. The geological formations discussed are favourable but no exploration activity has been undertaken as yet.

So much hypothetical crap is posted by the S2S campaign. Get the facts correct first.

author by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt Leaguepublication date Tue Feb 12, 2008 18:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

If Shelly, as one would suspect, is an oil person then it should know that oil companies play a 'long game' - in other words oil execs ensure that favourable conditions are created for their shareholders by the age-old method of grooming the people who can deliver such favours. This isn't libel, it's fact.

Enterprise Oil was formed in 1983; from 1984 onwards their 'man in Ireland' was John McGoldrick. During his tenure here the following facts are noteworthy:

in 1987 Ray Burke abolished the State share (50%) in its own natural resources;

the 1992 Finance Bill reduced the only remaining tax take to 25% payable only after ALL expenses, not necessarily well-specific were written off;

on the 1st Jan 1993 - the first day on which the Burke/Bertie terms came into force Enterprise Oil applied for an exploration licence in the offshore block which (surprise, surprise!) yielded Corrib, 'discovered' in 1996;

John McGoldrick was regularly seen in the company of Des Richardson both of whom appeared to enjoy each others company ...

author by Petrol -headpublication date Wed Feb 13, 2008 16:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Were being too hard on Shell - The only made 16 billion euro last year - sure the peasent irish can't be greedy and expect any of that. Better Shell have it then wasting it on sick people dieing on trollies in irish hospitals!!

author by The Patriotpublication date Wed Feb 13, 2008 16:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Thats how much the O'Reilly consortium expect from this initial find. Hardly small change as some people with obvious agendas would have us believe on here.

author by Dpublication date Thu Feb 14, 2008 17:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You are very trusting of press releases!

An announcement of 70 million barrels reserves is typical of small oil companies trying to talk up their share price whenever they can. The stock market could see the truth in this case, as there was no lasting effect on Providence's price.

The fact is that Providence and their partners have spent something like €20 million and have produced a load of mud, a thimble full of oil and a couple of dinosaur farts of gas. They will have to spend tens of millions more before they know if they have anything commercial then if they manage to achieve that they will need to start spending real money to produce it.

author by Shellypublication date Mon Feb 18, 2008 13:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I asked for a sensible rebuke to my argument and all I got was:

1) From the infamous Mrs. H, a statement of fact. Enterprise would not have countenanced exploring for what was to become Corrib under the old terms, that is evident. Of course they would wait for a better deal, WHO WOULDN'T!

Companies are allowed to lobby governments you know, not against the rules as long as there is no cash in brown paper bags. (Cue plethora of Bertie is Bought by Shell accusations from the small minded)

2)Petrol Head - yeah, its Shell's responsibility to sort out Ireland's welfare system. Lets ask McDonalds to take care of transport and Starbucks to look after agriculture whilst we are at it. More peevish rhetoric from you and absolutely no substance.

3) The patriot - thats how much they expect. So you are basing your entire argument on what they expect? Do you know anything about oil and gas exploration? Expectations are regularly met, exceeded or, is is often the case, unrealised.

So there we have it, 3 S2S luddites and all they can do is open their mouths and let those bellies rumble.

author by MacEpublication date Mon Feb 18, 2008 15:07author address author phone Report this post to the editors

One would have to be small-minded indeed to believe that Ahern is a clean politician. First it was the IRA, then anarchists, eco-terrorists and communists. Now people who believe machinery is intrinsically evil are apparently in the driving seat at Shell to Sea Centre. Whatever next?

Related Link: http://www.publicinquiry.e
author by Shellypublication date Mon Feb 18, 2008 17:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A luddite can also be one who opposes change from a technical point of view, much like S2S stuck in their "process it offshore" mode. Now do you see? Now lets hear a rebuke to the original argument, that has not already been well and truly destroyed already by myself and other posters.

author by MacEpublication date Mon Feb 18, 2008 18:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A Luddite can also be one who opposes the introduction of the state-of-the-art twister technology for Mayo's Corrib gas, as many in Shell to Sea have suggested. Would that definition include you, Shellite?

Related Link: http://www.mayogasinfo.com
author by Ludditepublication date Mon Feb 18, 2008 19:08author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Okay, the origianal argument seems to be that the Irish govt needed to give all the gas way to encourage someone to come and take it. Perhaps the poster could explain a few aspects of this for us dimwitted luddites -

1. Why does no one in the government ever come out and say publicly why these terms are necessary? They make statements on many things, from golfing trips to immigration to autism, but they never, ever come out and crow about this particular bit of economic mastery. Why not?

2. If the powers that be thought the oil companies wouldn't be interested now without such a fantastic deal, then why not simply leave the gas and oil where it is? Is it likely to become less valuable in the future?

3. Gas and oil is difficult to get to in many places. Indeed, it'sbecoming a truism that there is "no easy oil left". Why then, does no other government have such a good deal on offer? Even Chad has a better deal in place. Is N'Djamena so much easier to work in than Belmullet?

4. If the terms were needed in the past, why did Eamon Ryan seek to change them as soon as he got into office? Why are the Greens making noises about changing them for the next round of licences? What's changed? Is the gas getting easier to find out there now?

author by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt Leaguepublication date Mon Feb 18, 2008 23:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Facts on public record:

In September 1987 Ray Burke, then Minister for Energy, abolished the Irish people's 50% ownership in any future oil/gas finds. This followed private meetings between Burke and oil company execs against the advice of his senior civil servants.

Ray Burke is adjudged corrupt for accepting bribes for planning favours.

Bertie Ahern as Minister for Finance introduced the terms for oil and gas exploration and development which allowed a La Tene information booklet to inform oil companies that Ireland has:

(i) no State equity
(ii) no royalties
(iii) no special taxes

Bertie Ahern is currently under investigation by the Mahon Tribunal.

author by Eamon Ryan's consciencepublication date Wed Feb 20, 2008 00:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

GW Bush's view on incentives for oil companies:

“First of all, the President has made very clear what his view is. Oil companies should not be receiving incentives when the price of oil is where it is. The President has spoken out very clearly about that for some time. When the price of oil is as high as it is, he doesn't think we need to be providing additional incentives to oil companies.”

-Scott McLellan, 2/14/05 Press Briefing

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/2006021...tml#h

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