Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, has appointed Mr. Peter Cassells as mediator in the Corrib gas project dispute. Mr. Cassells was general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions from 1989 to 2001 and was one of the main architects of the social partnership agreements. He is chairperson of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance.

The Minister has closely followed the progress of the mediation process, under the leadership of Mr. Cassells, and is grateful to all concerned for their active participation in it. The Deputy will also know that the Minister has ordered a full safety review of the Corrib onshore upstream pipeline. Pending the outcome of this review Shell E&P Ireland has, at his request, ceased all works on the onshore pipeline. In addition it has ceased works on the offshore pipeline to allow for a period of public discussion and dialogue. Essential environmental and geotechnical maintenance and monitoring at the Bellanaboy terminal site are continuing but all other work on the terminal site has been suspended.

The current safety review is both thorough and comprehensive and is being carried out by independent internationally recognised experts. Advantica, the successful bidder, is a world leader in the development and application of advanced hazard and risk assessment technologies for gas pipelines.

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