Four Independent TDs and a Socialist Party TD have called for restoration of mediation between Shell E&P Ireland and the five men jailed last year over their opposition to the Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
The five TDs - Dr Jerry Cowley (Mayo), Tony Gregory (Dublin Central), Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central), Catherine Murphy (Kildare North) and Joe Higgins (Dublin West) of the Socialist Party - also called on Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey to "cease interfering with, and redefining" the mediation agreed by Shell and the five men from Rossport.
The group said at a press conference in Dublin yesterday that mediator Peter Cassells, a former Ictu secretary-general, should "defend the integrity of the mediation process from this political interference".
Mr Cassells was appointed mediator in the dispute by Mr Dempsey on October 29th last. However, the five men suspended their participation in mediation early this month, following remarks made in the Dáil and on Mid West Radio by the Minister, in which he indicated he had never envisaged that mediation would be confined to Shell and the five. Mr Cassells has since sought to meet the men to clarify the situation. He understood mediation would involve Shell and the men, and Shell and other non-consenting landowners. He had been involved on a separate basis in consultation with the "wider community".
Dr Cowley claimed Mr Dempsey had "misled the Dáil as to the true nature of mediation". A spokeswoman for Mr Dempsey said he hoped the appointment of a mediator would help to ensure that all concerned participated in the public consultation process of the safety review and work together to reach a solution acceptable to all.