Shell to Sea Campaign seek to influence 2007 General Election

national | politics / elections | news report

Sunday July 02, 2006 21:12

by Shell to Sea

dublinshelltosea at gmail dot com

FF/PD's said to be worried by campaign's widespread support outside Mayo

Politicians from several political ideologies gathered at the gates of Leinster House on Tuesday 27th June to meet campaigners from Dublin and Mayo who wished to draw attention to a new leaflet on the issue of the Corrib Gas scheme.

Joe Higgins from the Socialist Party, Mary Lou McDonald and Arthur Morgan from Sinn Féin, and Dan Boyle, Eamonn Ryan and John Gormley from the Green Party, were joined by Independent TD Jerry Cowley as they met some of wives of men who were imprisoned last year for protesting against the government-backed scheme to install a dangerous, experimental pipeline scheme through a residential area in north west Mayo.

Mary Corduff, Maureen McGrath and Caitlín Úi Sheighin travelled to Dublin from Rossport to give interviews and pose for pictures to raise the profile of the campaign's new leaflet, aimed at informing voters in next year's election of the facts surrounding the contentious Corrib scheme.

Although Joe Costello of the Labour Party was also present, it's not clear whether Labour would allow work on Shell's project to continue in the event of a Fine Gael-Labour coalition government.

As well as the well-known safety concerns, the leaflet draws attention to aspects of the deal which allow the enormously valuable natural gas stocks off the Irish coast to be given away for nothing to Shell, Statoil and Marathon Oil. In straightforward language, the reader is informed of the background to what a former Labour Party minister called "an act of economic treason". Future contracts will be awarded on the same basis, unless politicians re-write the legislation dealing with licenses for oil and gas exploration.

The Shell to Sea campaign are asking people to write to their elected representatives and all those seeking their vote, and ask what their intentions are regarding this situation.

People are also asked to consider whether compulsory purchase orders should be used to advance the interests of private companies, rather than for projects which benefit the community, like roads and hospitals. Readers are left in no doubt that the use of compulsory purchase and acquisition rights like this will undoubtedly spread to other parts of the country if Shell are allowed to succeed in Mayo, adding a national dimension to what many have previously seen as a local issue.

If the Corrib scheme becomes reality, similiar situations will arise in Dublin and elsewhere.

Voters are asked to think about their politicians' role in expediting big business interests, to the detriment of their own rights and freedoms.

Thousands of the leaflets are to be delivered door-to-door in Dublin and beyond. Particular care is being taken to target constituencies where the campaign has identified vulnerable coalition-held seats.

Fianna Fáil backbenchers, many of whom rely on transfers from left-wing parties to get elected, are expected to be alarmed at the prospect of losing votes because of a scheme from which they and their party will (like the rest of the country) gain nothing.

A recent Irish Times poll showed that 15% of Fianna Fáil's own core supporters think the Corrib Scheme should be scrapped. Recent internal FF polls are said to show that the party will face significant losses in Dublin if current trends continue.

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Comments (6 of 6)

Pictures from the Dáil 27/006/2006

Sun Jul 02, 2006 21:25

Photos showing the wide range of political support which the Shell to Sea campaign enjoys.

Help pay for the leaflet by attending the Shell to Sea table Quiz on Thursday July 13th in Doyles Pub, near Trinity...

wrote it here a few times in the last year -

by iosaf

Mon Jul 03, 2006 18:27

One of those women ought run for the Dail. It would be quite wonderful if she took Enda's seat.

left wing TDs for Mayo? as if...

by elecshun

Mon Jul 03, 2006 18:37

this happens every five years or so, a local issue gets heated in the run up to an election in a rural area and it appears to some like there's going to be a radical sea change after DECADES of a constituency voting more or less the same way it has always done - well here's a prediction for you, 2007 Gen Election result in Mayo FF 2, FG 2, Ind 1, NO CHANGE. there wont be any socialist or green TD, despite the shell to sea campaign. sorry but it isnt going to happen, the people of this country are IDIOTS, Michael Lowry gets re-elected in Tipp each time despite being exposed as corrupt, he even tops the poll, explain that one and stay fashionable...

Think nationally act locally

by nationwide

Mon Jul 03, 2006 19:40

This campaign is hoping to change voting patterns, not just in Mayo, but right across the 26 counties. The scheme to install a dangerous pipeline through a residential area would not have any hope of success without government support, and this government relies on FF backbenchers from around the country. A recent poll found that 15% of Fianna Fáil supporters thought the Shell Scheme should be scrapped.

The Shell to Sea campaign is asking people to vote according to their views on this issue, and show the government that people won't tolerate behaviour like Shell's, whether in Mayo or anywhere else.

Fund Raising Event - Eamon Dorans – July 22nd

by The Gig Factory

Wed Jul 05, 2006 01:09

Everyone - The shell to Sea campaign as everyone can see is doing immensely well and all the participants and contributors should be greatly praised for the time and effort they have put in and the progress they have made against this injustice. But as we all know, the battle is not over.

To help raise funding for the Solidarity Camp and the Shell to Sea campaign, there will be a fund raising gig on July 22nd in Eamon Doran's in Temple Bar, Dublin City Centre.

All proceeds from the gig will be going to the solidarity camp to distribute as they see fit. Please come along. The bands lined up are extremely good and there will be speakers there from the camp and information available for whoever may want it. The bands playing will be:

Love Pop Suicide
Flash My Frankenstein
The Ozark Roadshow
Alan Can't
and
The Hardcore Priests of Yemen

Tickets will be available from the door or from the volunteers on Friday and Saturday in Dublin City Centre Priced at €10.00 or €7.50 (for Students or With Flyer).

We really hope to get a good crowd in. If you need any more information on the bands, the event or the cause, please feel free to contact me at

thegigfactory@gmail.com

Come along bring friends and help the cause!

Armies dont win Wars,You the People Do!

by Flynn - agrescon@agrescon.nl

Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:48

agrescon at agrescon dot nl

0031102102055

Having worked in the Oil Industry for over 25 ,Years,in Many Countrys including here in Holland, I Flynn can say this. That theres more to all of this Corrib Gas Field, than anyone can follow.Check out my Questions ,on the 13 July Comments.Shell To Sea Quiz. The Multinationals are more dangerous than any Terror Group, Offshore Banker, Maffiosi,Trigger happy Army, although I wont be at all Suprised if they are ALL Involved Sadly even the Governments of more than One Country, Which makes the Whole Issue one of an Irish Constitutional Matter,as well as Economic,Social, Safety,and an Environmental One. For our Childrens, Childrens, Children. Flynn O Flynn, Of Conaught.

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Shell to Sea Campaign seek to influence 2007 General Election

Comments (6 of 6)