Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I welcome any move that will prevent what we have seen in mines around the country where multinationals have exploited our resources and have left nothing behind except a mess. That was the case with Tina Mines and in other places.

The Shell to Sea campaign is about creating an offshore terminal, something which has already happened off Kinsale and which would be very acceptable to the people in Rossport. The people are prepared to talk and to do whatever has to be done to ensure their area is kept for the children in the future. It is the same with the mines where 400 acres has been earmarked for development in the future. The people of the area do not want to see a situation develop like that which happened in Tina Mines, where a terrible mess was left to be dealt with by the locals and their children. That is what the Corrib gas debate is about. This is happening under their noses for 50 permanent jobs, which is something the people cannot condone.

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