MINISTER FOR Energy Eamon Ryan plans to use the internet to broadcast segments of the Government’s Corrib gas forum.
Mr Ryan’s department filmed discussions at yesterday’s forum meeting in north Mayo as both he and Cabinet colleague Éamon Ó Cuív made further efforts in Belmullet, Co Mayo to woo community representatives into participating. It is expected that video clips will be posted on YouTube and on his department’s website by mid-week.
“We are, after all, a communications department,” Mr Ryan told The Irish Times.
The two Ministers said they would have “no problem” in reviewing the forum’s remit to ensure full participation.
Two local community and business groups, Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal Le Chéile, and Shell to Sea have so far declined invitations to attend, principally on terms of reference issues.
The forum was established by the two Ministers last year, following protests at sea over plans to lay the offshore Corrib gas pipeline. Local politicians, the Pro-Gas Mayo group and the developers have all attended initial hearings under the chairmanship of former Department of Justice secretary-general Joe Brosnan.
“The terms of reference shouldn’t be a block to other people,” Mr Ryan said.
“For a lot of people, the key issue is safety and the environment, and we are happy to bring those issues to the fore. Both myself and Minister Ó Cuív have said that the terms of reference can be reviewed within the forum.” Mr Ryan said that progress had been made at informal discussions with Pobal Le Chéile and Pobal Chill Chomáin a fortnight ago. “I’ve seen both sides of this project, and I’ve worn my own woolly hat on it,” he said, referring to criticism of the protesters on RTÉ Radio late last week. “People have a right to express concerns,” he said.
Mr Ó Cuív said dialogue would continue, and both he and Mr Ryan were very committed to a solution. “We want to reassure people of our commitment, which is why both of us are present here in Belmullet.”
Presentations on consents and on safety issues relating to the project were made at yesterday’s forum meeting by Shell EP Ireland, the Department of Energy’s Technical Advisory Group, National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Mayo County Council. Maura Harrington of Shell to Sea asked why both Ministers were “in Belmullet, helping to keep Shell’s profits at €2 billion a month”.
In a related development, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) Ballyglass station says it has received no local criticism of its decision to accept sponsorship of €200,000 from Shell EP Ireland for the new Belmullet inshore lifeboat station. It has also denied that several volunteers have tendered resignations over the issue. The RNLI was “delighted” that Shell had agreed to pay 50 per cent of the cost of the new station, the organisation said in a statement.
Erris fisherman Pat O’Donnell said fishermen were “very upset”, given the ongoing issues with the Corrib gas project and its impact on the marine environment.
“If we are involved in an incident at sea, and need the lifeboat, will the response time be the same if it is known that we have spoken out over Corrib.”