Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I want to make a number of points to the Minister. There are 500 people in Rossport. A number of people who were working for Shell and associated companies have walked away from the pipeline project today in support of the people who have been jailed. My first priority concerns the influence of the Department, including the Minister, on Shell. By God, it has a great influence on Shell because the door was always open for the company whenever it wanted to walk in, particularly under the previous Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern. Can the whole project be reassessed by way of an independent inquiry into the behaviour of the Department regarding the planning process, the way in which the door was opened for Shell and the way the residents of Rossport and the surrounding areas have been treated?

Why has the Minister not released the first risk assessment report? Before further consent is issued to Shell, that report and all other relevant reports should be released and the people should be allowed sufficient time to examine and discuss them.

On phase 3 of the pipeline project, will the Minister confirm whether Shell has his consent to continue with its work or is it breaking the law? Under what planning legislation did he give the company permission to build sheds, huts and other developments at Rossport without going through the planning process? How is the company allowed to do this?

Will the Minister consider seriously an independent evaluation of the project and consider other ways of bringing in the gas rather than by upsetting, disturbing and destroying the lives of people who did not ask for the pipeline to come by their doors and who did not want it to do so? There are now five innocent people in jail — five citizens of this State — who have been let down by the Minister, his predecessor and the rest of the Government because the door was open for a multinational company. By God, I am sure the tent will be also open at the Galway races in two weeks.

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