After 55 days, enough is enough
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
press release 
Monday August 22, 2005 13:24
by elaine - labour
If Shell are committed to facilitating this process of public dialogue and consultation then this process must be accompanied by an immediate collapsing of the injunction against the Rossport 5, argues Tommy Broughan TD.
Today is the 55th day that the Rossport Five have spent in prison. Unfortunately it is looking increasingly likely that this dispute will drag on until the Dail resumes in the Autumn.
Shell recently halted work on the pipeline and announced that they are to begin a new phase of public dialogue. For this process to have any genuine meaning it must be accompanied by an immediate collapsing of the injunction against the five imprisoned men.
During my last visit with the men I found them bearing up well, although obviously very anxious to be back with their families. They were heartened by the solidarity that has been shown from all around Ireland and the wider world for their protest.
The Rossport protestors have achieved much, albeit through the ordeal of spending 55 days in prison. They have brought to light serious health and safety concerns surrounding the Corrib pipeline development. They have focused public attention on government management of a key new national energy source.
In the broader context they have also highlighted the seriously flawed ownership, royalties and tax regime currently in place for Ireland’s natural resources, in a manner that is unprecedented in the Irish media over the last 20 years.
55 days is too long for any Irish citizens to have to spend in prison because of serious fears for the long-term health and safety of their families and community. Enough is enough. This process has to move forward, and this can only happen with the Rossport Five out of prison.
If Shell are committed to facilitating this process of public dialogue and consultation then they must collapse this inappropriate injunction. They should do this immediately
Comments (12 of 12)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12But isn't it a shame that your Mayo born leader is shamefully quiet on the subject. Afraid of upsetting the Kenny's?
......he knows that this project is in the national interest, the health and safety arguments are surious and that this campaign is fundamentally flawed? just a thought
Of course it's in the nationl interest. We will have 27% of the gas at market rates. The rest can then be exported to make more money for an Anglo-Dutch and a Norwegian company. Also we will have a completely unique onshore refinery and a pipe running through ecologically sensitive bogland at a depth of 1.2 metres instead of the standard three and then our goverment will pay to connect it into the national grid so Shell can sell it to us providing no real saving or benefit for the Irish people. Oh happy days! What a glorious age we live in!
What vision! what guidance!
Or should that be,
What vision? What guidance?
....and you think having security of supply is not in the national interest? and you think that a national gas infrastructure is not in the national interest?
Under capitalism there is no such thing as the 'national interest' and the facts of what is happening here demonstrates this.
If you want a list of things that are in the interests of Irish workers in relation to this here are a few suggestions.
1. That the profits from natural resources should be used to pay for health and education rather than make the rich richer (whether that be foreign corporations or native individuals).
2. That corporations should not be able to get ordinary people indefiently jailed for standing up to their corporate power.
3. That the extraction of natural resources should be done in a way that offers the least threat to the lives of ordinary people and to the environment we share.
Pretty much the opposite is happening for all 3 of these points - the only 'national interest' this reflects is the interests of some mega corporations, some Irish business people and some greddy politicians.
[Also of course the gas staying in the ground now means that it remains available in a future when it will be worth more, will be cheaper to extract and a post-celtic economy might need the boost]
Shane - can you explain the 27% at market rates bit?
For Shell.......
Shell Clonskeagh
Please write to each of the five men - share some thoughts with them and show your solidarity for this incrediblly brave, self-sacrifycing, noble act that they are doing and which we will all benefit from:-
Micheál Ó Seighin
Willie Corduff
Brendan Philbin
Vincent McGrath
Philip McGrath
Cloverhill Prison, Dublin
I'm late into this topic having been out foreign for all the excitement.
Can someone please explain to me what is the specific contempt of court alleged against these five men ?
If there was contempt of court in the form of disobedience of court orders does that not put the matter beyond Shell or anyone else's wishes ? If so, surely this becomes an issue between the five men and the High Court only and no amount of protest can alter that ?
It seems crazy that these five men are in custody if they have done nothing wrong as claimed by their supporters>
Well done mystefied - you are obviously awake and astute. Most people have missed your point completely!!
For someone who has been away, it is a valid question. For Hal, for crying out loud cop on!!!
The injunction prevents anyone from obstructing Shell in their operations now and in the future.
The men CAN NOT promise to never obstrcut Shell as Shell have proven themselves to be liars and the Gov have proven that they will take Shells word as gospel.
Obsturction is a very broad term - does it include speaking against them publicly?? I believe it could.
Shell can waive their rights to the injunction, effectively taking it away and then the men would have to apologise to the court but would not have to undertake to not cause any obstruction to Shell.
The men are willing to apologise to the court - they do not enjoy being outside the law. It is just that it is their only option.
There are many news stories and articles and coments on this issue and the others..Perhaps if you look at some of the older ones it might help you get caught up in what has been happening while you were away.
It is a scary story - make sure you have the lights on.
Members of Mayo County Council have been meeting with the five men imprisoned as a result of their objection to the Corrib gas pipeline.
The meeting at Clover Hill Prison was to include examining possible options to secure their release.
Paddy McGuinness of Fine Gael said the options being discussed centred on the men's concerns about health and safety arising from Shell's Corrib gas field project.
However, with the men entering their ninth week in prison, a spokesperson for the Shell to Sea Campaign says they will remain in prison unless Shell drops its High Court injunction.
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