Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 2a:

In page 11, line 42, after "provided." to insert the following:

"The Minister will also consult with representative community and business groups with an interest in the foreshore for which the application has been made.".

This amendment is complementary to that tabled by Deputy Higgins in that it would ensure local interest groups are given a say in how enterprises develop in their areas. There are painful memories of certain events that have occurred in the past two years, including the jailing of what I would call community activists for standing up against powerful multinationals which, shamefully, were supported by the Government and the legal system. I am referring to areas such as Rossport, Ballinaboy and the Corrib area, the latter of which contains fantastic resources. Nobody was against the bringing to shore of these resources, but there was a need for provisions to ensure the safety of the community as a whole. We have seen the latest results in this regard from An Bord Pleanála, which came down in favour of the community activists.

We seek to democratise this Bill. The Green Party, which is currently in Government, sat on this side of the House and, in its position in Opposition, advocated the decentralisation of power and its delegation to local communities, yet its members now stand against the communities they claimed to support. It is amazing what power does to people. It corrupts absolutely.

We do not ever again want to see citizens imprisoned as a result of their genuine concerns for their community. We do not want to see a multinational oil company paying for a facility for a political party at the Galway races. We do not want to see substantial donations from major oil companies compromising the political system of the State. What we want to see is the utilisation of our resources for the benefit of all. In particularly, we want to ensure that the rights of people and communities are protected. People who have genuine concerns, such as the concerns of those in the Rossport area about the laying of a gas pipeline at their own back doors, must be protected. I ask the Minister to consider accepting this amendment in the interests of safety, democracy and ownership of our natural resources by the communities at the front line.

Deputy Barrett mentioned the major resource potential of the west coast, all the way from Youghal and around the south coast, up through the Porcupine Basin and as far as the Corrib area. These resources are largely untouched. The political representatives from the latter area will testify to the disastrous decision regarding licensing. Communities must be protected. We want to bring back democracy to local communities and to undo the centralisation of power.

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