Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

We are on Committee Stage in respect of this amendment and I must reply to some of the Minister's comments. He has been acting as if he has no role in this matter, as if he were an innocent bystander and is not in any way responsible for this mess. I ask the Minister to engage, perhaps for the first time, with what is happening in Mayo. There was never any question of Shell considering in any serious way any other option. Shell could have done all this in a way that would have had the consent of local people.

More than 90% of local people support the protesters. According to the TG4 poll, 61% of people support the Shell to sea option, which is what the people of Mayo want. That is not the desire of just a few people, as some would like us to believe, but of the vast majority of the population of the area. A total of 66% support the stance of the Rossport five and in that context, I do not know how the Minister can claim this relates to only a few people. These are the Minister's people. This is the Minister's country and these are his subjects, as Minister, and his constituents in the broadest sense. I urge the Minister to listen to what they are saying. The protesters are there every day. It is not easy for them. They are getting up at 5 a.m. and turning out in their hundreds. Despite what people might like to think, this protest is achieving greater support. The numbers are higher now than they ever have been and will continue to be so because people feel hard done by.

The Minister referred to the fact that people would not talk to Shell. If he was put in jail for 94 days, he would not be too enamoured of the idea of talking to the company responsible. The Minister could talk to Shell and to the people of the area but he has never done that. He has never been to the area to see exactly what is happening but I advise him to come.

The Minister referred to the Advantica report, which examined the pipeline but not its location. The Minister knows well that the problem is not the pipeline but its location. Other reports on the issue have been published, including that prepared by the Centre for Public Inquiry and by Mr. Kevin Moore for An Bord Pleanála. The latter argued that the terminal is in the wrong place. The Minister cannot deny the existence of these reports. Even the Advantica report acknowledged that the peoples' fears were justified and that the gas pressure was too high and should be reduced. This is not about an ordinary pipeline, as the Minister likes to insinuate. The Minister has suggested that people are fussing about a Bord Gáis pipeline similar to those found in normal houses but this pipeline is an animal of an entirely different species. This is a pipeline carrying unprocessed gas at high pressure.

Advantica found that the pressure was too high and should be reduced. While this could be done using a beach valve, Advantica could not say it could be done with safety and as the Minister knows, things can go wrong. Depending on a beach valve to sort out that issue is something to which Advantica could not give a clean bill of health. Therefore, what the Minister says, with respect, is wrong.

This could have been done safely and in a way that would have resulted in a win-win situation. In fact, it can still be done in a positive manner and could mean so much for this country. It could mean jobs for the people of the area. It could mean that the people would not be condemned to uncertainty about the future. The issue is a 400 acre site which will destroy the entire area. For many reasons, not least the unacceptably high threat to the health and safety of the local population, there are better ways to progress this project. I have spoken about the alternatives that will secure full community consent. Such consent can be found very easily but the Minister is not even prepared to examine the alternatives. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Minister's attitude has been far from perfect in terms of his responsibilities. He has been partisan and his attitude has been typical of the response of the Government from the outset. He behaves as if he is an innocent bystander with no responsibility in this area.

I could talk about this issue at length. Gas prices here have risen by 34% but the Corrib gas will not make one iota of difference. The reality is that we now have an international global gas supply. The argument regarding security of supply does not hold up. It is difficult to accept that we have such riches off our coast but they will not affect the price of gas here. In fact, the price will continue to rise and the people will have to continue to dig into their pockets, despite the rich supply of gas off the Irish coast.

I ask the Minister to re-examine the situation and to address the fact that the people for whom he is responsible have a very serious problem. This is not just an issue for a few people but for the vast majority of the population in the area. The Minister has a proposal in front of him and I ask him to give it due consideration and not to simply tear it up.

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