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Blast from the Past

We pay the bill for the great oil and gas grab

26th May 2006 - Frank Connolly's first (Friday) column for Daily Ireland
 
In recent weeks, there has been a veritable tsunami of establishment media drivel against those who demand that the Irish government halt the give away of the country's oil and gas reserves and stop pandering to the multi-nationals, much of it from the O’Reilly controlled press.

Another gas terminal for Bellanaboy?

By: 
Daniel Hickey - Western People - 4th July 2007

UP TO THREE new terminals and five new pipelines, for oil as well as gas, are understood to be part of plans for the controversial site at Bellanaboy Bridge in north Mayo.
In a recent publication entitled Atlantic Ireland: An Exciting Petroleum Province, the Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD) - a subsection of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - assesses the economic viability of the four Atlantic oil and gas basins: the Rockall Basin, the North and South Porcupine, and the Slyne/Erris/Donegal Basins.

An Open Letter to the Minister For Justice: Michael Mc Dowell

Making the Strategic Infrastructure Bill an Election Issue. (Rossport and Poolbeg) -

10th November 2006
 

"Leinster House, calling Leinster House, can you hear? This is Mayo calling!"

Michael Cunningham's article published in Mayo Association Yearbook 2002
Norway has around four million of a population. They, like Ireland, only got their independence at the beginning of the twentieth century. This is their story! An indicator on how our hydrocarbon resources off our County of Mayo coast should be exploited to benefit all the people of this little country over whom you rule! Norway also is a small country, but fully realises the potential riches off its western shores.
 

Clashes force Shell to halt marine survey

The Irish Times  - Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent
Shell E&P Ireland postponed marine survey work on a possible new pipeline route in north Mayo yesterday following clashes which left 20 locals and two gardaí injured at Pollathomas pier.
The handling of the confrontation has been condemned by residents and defended by the Garda.

Yoho I'm a Provo!, or the Sunday Shell Smear

by Terry - Rossport Solidarity Camp - 10th Oct 06
 
The main article on Shell to Sea this weekend was a repeat of Paul Williams earlier story in the Sunday World last weekend.  These stories concerned Provo intimidation. This is likely to be a recurring theme so it is examined in detail in this article. Shell to Sea was also smeared by the Sunday Times (again) and Saturday’s Mail. The Mail gave positive coverage earlier in the week. There were decent pieces in the Irish Times and in Village. This article just looks at the negative coverage.

Green Party calls for new terms on exploration rights for Irish gas and oil

Issued: 12 December 2006

Statement by Martin Hogan

The Green Party has called for the terms of the exploration rights of gas and oil off the Irish coast to be redrafted. The Party passed a policy calling for new terms at a recent meeting of its National Council.

'Erris will never be the same again'

The Irish Times - Lorna Siggins - Monday, November 27, 2006

The Corrib gas terminal project at Bellanaboy has caused deeper community tensions and divisions than any other issue in Mayo in modern times.
"There is a failure in understanding the community and environment into which this large industrial development seeks to be sited . . . This emphasises how out of context the proposal is . . ."

Shell to Sea picketers accuse Údarás of aiding dangerous project - 12/01/2007

by Fiona McGarry, Mayo Advertiser
Lobby group Shell to Sea will stage a picket today (Friday) at the headquarters of Údarás na Gaeltachta in Furbo, Co Galway, in protest over the decision of the authority to allocate one of its premises in Erris to Shell.

Bertie more interested in 'hanging baskets and flower pots' than the safe exploitation of the Corrib gas field

Dáil Sketch: Independent deputies and Enemies of the State Joe Higgins, Séamus Healy, Tony Gregory and Jerry Cowley are holding an early-morning press conference on the side of a country road in Mayo. They have just been on a protest march to the site of Shell's controversial gas pipeline, writes Miriam Lord.