The pipeline needed to bring Corrib gas ashore should proceed quickly, Minister for Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey has declared.
Last night, Shell said it would reply within a fortnight to the recommendations made by mediator Peter Cassells.
Speaking after publication of the Cassells document, Mr Dempsey was sharply critical of the so-called Rossport Five and their supporters: "I believe they don't reflect the overall views of the community generally. There are people in particular who claim to be speaking on behalf of all of the community and it is quite clear that that is not true."
Urging all to read Mr Cassells' detailed recommendations, Mr Dempsey said: "I think it is very fair and balanced. It proposes solutions. Every reasonable person in the area would find some comfort there for them."
However, he placed responsibility for the next step on to Shell's shoulders: "It is entirely a matter for Shell to decide on whether they want to go and look for an alternative route. They have consent in the plan of development for the current route, provided they meet all of the safety requirements. There is no reason why they can't go the current route."
Noting that Mr Cassell had suggested the company could find an alternative route farther away from houses, he said: "It is up to Shell to respond to that, to make up their minds."
Bord Gáis Éireann could be given a role in "constructing, supervising, maybe certifying" the Erris pipeline: "Bord Gáis has a good reputation in Ireland, obviously. They are in charge of all of the gas transmission pipelines around the country. They would have a good record. It is a matter for Shell and Bord Gáis."
The Minister said Mr Cassells had issued a final report because he knew he could not advance matters further: "The five men from Rossport wouldn't engage in face-to-face mediation with Shell, even though that face-to-face mediation was to be unconditional on either side. Neither side had to give up anything. They refused consistently to go in. He decided after seven months that he couldn't take it further. I wouldn't expect him to be engaged further. There is not much point in being engaged in trying to move mountains when mountains don't want to move."
Acknowledging that the State and Shell had made mistakes, Mr Dempsey went on: "There were concerns that weren't fully addressed. There were some concerns that were somewhat overstated, but there were genuine ones as well.
"I think that if that had been detected earlier that probably would have been helpful. But there are people, and I think it is quite clear from reading the report, reading between the lines and from local knowledge, that it didn't matter what you did they would find an excuse to oppose this particular project. What we have tried to do is address the genuine concerns, that we try to allay those reasonable fears. I think that we have done everything we could to do that and it is time to get the project moving."
The Corrib gas is increasingly important to the State's energy needs, he said: "It is a matter for Shell, but I believe very strongly that it is vitally necessary for us currently. We saw what happened to gas prices over the last number of weeks. We have seen what happened earlier this year about gas supplies. Here we have an asset off the west coast that would reduce our dependence on gas for a number of years by 60 per cent. It is something that we can't and shouldn't leave there, but it is up to the developers."
He rejected charges that the Government has handed out exploration licences for nothing: "We are not going to set up a State company to start bringing oil and gas ashore, to try and commandeer it. We have already licensed these people.
"Nobody would thank any Irish government if they were spending €100 million or €150 million a year on dry wells. We have chosen to let the private sector develop our gas resources."
Green Party TD Éamon Ryan said the Cassells report had "some constructive proposals that might help", particularly the idea that Bord Gáis could become involved. "Unfortunately, there are no details with regard to the recommendation that Shell modify the route of the pipeline in the vicinity of Rossport. I would call on Mr Cassells to issue information as to what modification might be possible."