Shell Ireland has rejected an attempt by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to find a legal compromise which could secure the release of the five Mayo men jailed for contempt of court over their opposition on the Corrib Gas pipeline.
During his third visit to the men, Mr Kenny suggested that their legal team should meet with Shell's lawyers to discuss a possible legal precedent that dates back to a 1977 High Court case.
Mr Kenny believes that the 1977 case, which drew a distinction between criminal and civil contempt, could provide the key to securing the men's release.
"It offers the possibility of Shell consenting to the men's release and applying to have its injunction varied on the grounds that work on the project has been temporarily halted, without prejudice to its right to seek the same order if it needs it in the future," he said.
The men have been in jail for two months now and are refusing to purge their contempt
Speaking to ireland.comthis morning, a Shell Ireland spokesman said that following examination of the case by their legal team, it appeared that a number of impediments to the lifting of the injunction the company had taken against the five men and others remained.
He said that the case cited by Mr Kenny involved an injunction taken against one party and that a resolution had been reached in that instance.
"In this case, there's no resolution to the differences and, most importantly, this injunction is not just against one party, or even just against the five men. It's against a much wider group of objectors or potential objectors that may seek to obstruct the project," he added.
Shell have agreed to meet with the legal advisors of the five men to discuss the matter further..