Rossport 5 Withdraw from Mediation

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday February 01, 2006 20:11 by M. Ní Sheighin

Rossport 5 announce their suspension from involvement in mediation process with Shell

We announce with deep regret and immediate effect our suspension from involvement in the mediation process between ourselves and SHELL. This has been brought about by the continued and direct interference in the mediation process by Minister Noel Dempsey T.D.

Mediation is a process of dispute resolution in which a neutral third party, the mediator, assists two or more parties to negotiate an agreement. The Minister, as an active sponsor of the SHELL project in North Mayo and non-neutral, has no role seeking and receiving briefings from the mediator. He has confirmed publicly his interference with the role of the mediator by expectation of a mediation report within specific timeframes, and has unilaterally assigned an "extended role" to the mediator to determine how objections to the projected can best be softened (Dáil written reply No. 147 25.01.06).

While we were meeting with the mediator to begin mediation last week, the Minister was again confirming to the Dail details of this interference including his knowledge of the duration of a mediation process that had just begun 30 minutes before.

Meaningful mediation is the way forward, not interference and conflict. Our involvement in the mediation process can only resume following a clear explanation by the Minister of what he considers mediation involves, and what the function of this specific mediator is as appointed and briefed by him.

Philip McGrath
Brendan Philbin
Vincent McGrath
Willie Corduff
Micheál Ó Seighin