Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I have a right to defend myself in the House when accusations are made against me. The opposition in Mayo is not confined to a couple of radicals. It includes the local population, whether the Minister likes it or not. If he cares to read any of the surveys other than the one conducted by Shell, including those by TG4 and the Mayo Advertiser, he will note that the vast majority of the population is in favour of what the protesters are trying to do. They are just trying to be safe in their own area. Every party is entitled to support the campaign and no democratic party should be overruled. To say otherwise is wrong.

The Minister said people were not prepared to talk to Shell. The men who were jailed were——

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