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Blast from the Past

Myth-making obscures realities of Corrib

By: 
William Hederman - IrishOilAndGas.com

Minister Noel Dempsey’s latest contribution to the debate over the Corrib Gas project is a claim that a fellow TD overheard a mobile phone conversation on Grafton Street in Dublin, in which the words “riot” and “Rossport” were allegedly heard. Previous outbursts by the Minister for Energy and Natural Resources have been dismissed by the Shell to Sea campaign as “unhelpful”. But this intervention is helpful. It highlights the lack of any meaningful attempt by the Government to resolve the conflict.

Gas Lads - Indepth report from Magill (2002)

By: 
Sandra Mara - Magill

The politicians who sold Ireland's family silver in the great oil and gas give-away
The massive finds of oil and gas on our western seaboard could ensure Ireland's financial security for generations. Wealth approximating that of the Arab countries is within our grasp, but the Irish government seems content to sell off our birthright for a handful of votes and a few dollars.

Government rejects olive branch

By: 
Áine Ryan - Mayo News

Mayo News - 7th Nov 06
AN OLIVE branch by Shell to Sea to break the ongoing stalemate by establishing a public Commission of Enquiry into ‘the optimum development concept’ for the controversial Corrib gas project has been dismissed by Minister Noel Dempsey as containing ‘nothing new’ and by Shell as ‘unrealistic’. 

Rossport 5 receive Award from Labour Leader

By: 
Labour Youth - Indymedia

The Tom Johnson summer school - the annual summer school of the Labour Party took place during the weekend in Kilkenny. This year the Jim Kemmy award was given to the community in Rossport and Erris and was accepted by Vincent McGrath of the Rossport Five. The Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte T.D. presented the award.

Free offshore ride for Tony O’Reilly highlights total inadequency of offshore licencing terms

By: 
Colm Rapple - Irish Mail on Sunday

Independent Newspapers’ boss Tony O’Reilly has secured himself a free ride in an exploration venture off the west coast which will personally net him a 7% stake in oil and gas finds that could be worth over €20 billion according to some analysts.

Spoof - An Bord Pleanála Grants Planning Permission for Onshore Pipeline in Mayo

By: 
An Bord Pleanála - Indymedia

19th October 2009

An Bord Pleanála announces its decison today to grant planning permission with revised conditions to Shell E&P Ireland (SEPIL) for the construction of an onshore gas pipeline in Mayo.

The Great Gas Giveaway - How the elites have gambled our health and wealth.

A 16 page booklet from AFRI written by Michael McGaughan and Andy Storey about the Great Gas Giveaway.

In it they state:

"An international study in 2002 found that only Cameroon took a lower share of the revenues from its own oil or gas resources than Ireland"

Next government may solve Corrib debacle

[3rd May 2007]
MOMENTS of humour have been rare at the high-octane Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) hearing into the issuing of an Integrated Pollution Prevention Control licence for the Corrib gas project. So when Shell witness Dr David Phillips, an expert in marine pollution control, broke the tension, the brief relief rippled through the room like a mini-tornado. Shell to Sea’s John Monaghan was cross-examining three scientists, and intimating that despite their declared objectivity, they clearly enjoyed ‘a cosy, even incestuous, relationship’ with the giant company. “Well, we haven’t had sex yet,” retorted Dr Philips drily.

Moscow, Plumbers, Hairdressers, The Mafia, and Minister of State Frank Fahey

There have been a number of interesting stories circulating about Frank Fahey recently. The former minister for the Marine and Natural Resources was instrumental in the initial planning stages of the Corrib Gas scheme, and was at the time accused of using "bullying tactics" to secure Shell's preferred option - an onshore pipeline connecting the sea bed with a giant gas refinery built on a peat bog at Ballinaboy.

Secret papers 'show how Shell targeted Nigeria oil protests'

[Sunday, 14 June 2009]

Serious questions over Shell Oil's alleged involvement in human rights abuses in Nigeria emerged last night after confidential internal documents and court statements revealed how the energy giant enlisted the help of the country's brutal former military government to deal with protesters.