The findings of a draft report in to the safety of the proposed Corrib gas pipeline has been rejected by campaigners and politicians.
The Advantica report found the proposals for the Shell-led consortium's plan for a 9 km stretch of on-shore pipeline would be safe provided extra safety procedures and design features were incorporated.
A number of objectors' concerns such as the pressure at which gas is piped; the boggy land on which the pipe will be built and its distance from homes have been addressed in the draft report.
But the conclusions were met with scorn by Shell to Sea, the group at the forefront of the campaign against the pipeline.
Spokesman Dr Mark Garavan said the terms of reference were flawed from the outset particularly as alternatives such as off-shore production were not considered.
"At the core of the Advantica recommendation is the belief that a technical solution can be found, and no such technical solution exists that is fail-safe.
"They were not able to explore alternative design options, pipeline designs or routes. Because of that they were simply asking themselves now they have the pipeline on this route how can you make this as safe as possible," Dr Garavan said.
Shell said in a statement this evening that the review was "detailed and thorough" and that it would be examining the report with the concerns of local people in mind.
"Having engaged with, and listened to, the local community over the past weeks and months SEPIL [Shell E&P Ireland Limited] recognises the sensitivities and concerns over the onshore pipeline and is committed to addressing them."
Independent TD Dr Jerry Cowley echoed Dr Garavan's concern about the report's failure to consider other options, while Labour's Tommy Broughan said the report "highlights serious inadequacies" and its conclusions may be insufficient to resolve the impasse between Shell and local residents.
The Green Party's Eamon Ryan said some of the findings pointed to the need for Shell "to go back to the drawing board to design additional control measures".
"The further call by Advantica for an independent audit and inspection of the construction and operation phase of the pipeline, shows that the Government has been more interested in getting this project completed as quickly as possible rather than putting in place the control mechanisms that would properly protect the public interest," said Deputy Ryan.