The Government-appointed mediator in the Rossport Five dispute has recommended that Shell should change the route of its controversial gas pipeline to take it away from houses in the area, writes Stephen Collins, Political Correspondent
After almost eight months of consultation and investigation the former head of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Peter Cassells, has sent a report to the Government with a number of recommendations about how the project should proceed.
One of the key recommendations in the report, due to be published today, is that Shell should "modify" the route of the pipeline in the vicinity of Rossport, on the Mayo coast, in order to address community concerns about its proximity to houses in the area.
As regards the objections by the five local people who went to jail because of their refusal to obey a court injunction not to hinder construction of the pipeline, Mr Cassells concluded two weeks ago that no agreement was likely between them and Shell.
However, he has sent a report to the Government outlining the basis on which he believes the pipeline should be constructed while gaining the confidence of the wider community in the area.
As well as modifications of the current route, Mr Cassells suggested in the report that the Government should consider involving the State agency Bord Gáis in the construction of the pipeline.
It is understood that he expresses the view that the community would repose more confidence in the project if Bord Gáis was involved, given its safety record and the fact that it is an agency of the State.
Mr Cassells leaves open a number of options, including the prospect of Bord Gáis owning the pipeline and renting it to Shell or building it on an agency basis.
Among his 10 recommendations it is understood that Mr Cassells deals with a range of issues, including financial compensation for landowners on the pipeline route, environmental concerns about the terminal, improved benefits for local people and the region, and monitoring of the project and consultations with local people.
Mr Cassells has asked the parties involved and people generally to await his report on the mediation and to give it serious consideration. Two weeks ago he disclosed his view that "no agreement is likely in the foreseeable future" between the two parties, based on seven months of "intensive discussions" and "detailed consultations with the local community".
Shell accused the principal objectors of "refusing to engage in face-to-face dialogue" and of "presenting the company with an unrealistic ultimatum".
The spokesman for the Shell to Sea campaign, Dr Mark Garavan, rejected the accusation and said it indicated that the company was never serious about mediation and that it "clearly wanted direct negotiations without Mr Cassells as facilitator".