Broughan meets Statoil
national |
environment |
press release 
Thursday September 29, 2005 16:30
by cf - labour
Labour Party Spokesperson on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Tommy appeals to representatives of Statoil to urgently request their partners Shell to collapse the injunction and ensure that the five Rossport men go free
Labour Party Spokesperson on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Tommy Broughan, met senior Statoil executives for a wide-ranging discussion on the Corrib dispute this morning. Today’s meeting with Helge Hatlestad, Statoil Senior Vice President for International Development and Production (D&P) and Peter Smith, Statoil D&P Manager for Ireland and the UK, resulted from the Labour Party’s repeated requests since early July for such a meeting.
Deputy Broughan commented, “I outlined the health and safety concerns regarding the Rossport pipeline which had led to the five Rossport citizens being imprisoned. I also reported on the local unhappiness with the planning and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process and especially with the issuing of the 2002 consents by former Minister Frank Fahey. I questioned the two Staoil executives on their attitude to an offshore refinery solution and appealed to them to liase with their partners Shell to immediately waive the court injunction and allow the Rossport citizens to return to their families.
“A lengthy debate followed on all aspects of the safety and development of the project. I welcomed the growing involvement of the senior management of Statoil in efforts to find a resolution of this impasse. I also indicated that I was in contact with the Norwegian Labour Party and hoped to speak to the incoming Labour Ministers of the new Norwegian government. It was acknowledged that many Irish people admired the way the Norwegian state and Statoil had managed Norway’s natural resources for the benefit of the Norwegian people.
“At the conclusion of the meeting I again appealed to the Statoil managers to urgently request their partners Shell to collapse the injunction and ensure that the five Rossport men go free as the first crucial step in working out a solution acceptable to all the parties involved.”
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3Its good to see someone in Labour doing some good work for the Rossport 5. Pity their Leader isnt as active?
The government has agreed to a request from the Leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte TD, for a Dail debate on the jailing of the Rossport Five.
The matter had been raised on the Order of Business yesterday by Deputy Rabbitte who asked the Taoiseach to agree to such a debate. The Taoiseach eventually agreed that the Party Whips should discuss the matter and at the Whips meeting last it was agreed that the debate would take place next Tuesday.
“Now that the Dail has returned from its recess, I believe it is essential that there should be a debate on this issue. It is unacceptable that we should find ourselves in a situation where 5 citizens have been left languishing in jail for over three months”, Deputy Rabbitte said yesterday evening.
“It is incumbent on all parties and members of the Dail to do all possible to find a solution to this difficult dispute that will allow the earliest possible return of these men to their families.
“I hope that the Dail debate will be used in a constructive manner to help find such a solution. While final details have yet to be worked out, I believe it is essential that it should include provision for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to come into the House and answer questions on the government’s approach to this whole issue”.
Why doesn't he come out in support of the demands of the men in prison? He's doing exactly the same as Kenny. Pretending to be on the side of the men when he is not. Hence the reason he will not be speaking at the national protest.
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