Shell admits mistakes over Corrib pipeline

Shell E&P Ireland has admitted regrets the way it handled initial disagreements between it and sections of the Mayo community when it first announced plans for an onshore pipeline.

However, managing director Andy Pyle has all but ruled out a return to a Government-appointed mediator or third party to resolve any remaining disagreements with a "strong minority".

He said: "We've apologised, I've apologised for the way this has panned out. I think the learning that we have taken on board is that there wasn't enough dialogue and discussion in the early days."

"It was very difficult . . . we offered, on a number of occasions to meet people face to face. I think views were already pretty well entrenched and there was reluctance to meet. But, I think we could, and should, have done more to facilitate that," Mr Pyle said.

An injunction secured by Shell in 2005 led to the jailing of five Mayo men for 94 days after they were found in contempt of court, and that significantly delayed the construction of an onshore terminal and pipeline.

Government-appointed mediator Peter Cassells has since produced a report that found widespread support in Mayo for the pipeline but recommended that Shell re-route it to ease local safety concerns.

Despite Mr Pyle's insistence that Mr Cassells's contribution was "very thorough", he does not envisage further dialogue with a mediator as beneficial.

"I think we've been through the third party [route]," said Mr Pyle. "To be quite honest, if Mr Cassells can't achieve a result - and he is probably one of the most respected people in this regard in Ireland - I don't think anyone else could. We are just making sure that our door is open to sit down with anybody to talk."

Shell agreed to all of the report's recommendations, but Mr Pyle said the company is not yet aware of the new route: "not least because that can only be done in proper consultation, particularly with people who are directly affected and the wider community in that area."

Shell has produced documentation for local people, detailing its plans to engage in talks over the route, with a view to finalising a route within six to 12 months.

Shell plans to restart work on the terminal, which has full planning permission and was delayed as a gesture of "good faith" during the mediation process, in spring next year; construction is expected to take two years.

Shell expects protests when work restarts, but Mr Pyle said "if we are obstructed then it really is a matter for the gardaí to facilitate the access to the site". However, he says that Shell is not "intending to pursue" the injunction, which is being withdrawn.

Mr Pyle says Shell has not received a response from the Shell-to-Sea campaign to a request for talks.

The gas supply in the Corrib field is expected to last about 15 to 20 years and to supply about 60 per cent of Ireland's gas supply in the early years of that period.