Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

Following on from my colleague, Deputy Brian Stanley, I would also like to raise some environmental concerns regarding the pipe Shell is building. The current plan from Shell sees a pipeline going up the Sruwaddacon through Broadhaven Bay. In late 2007 Shell consultants rejected this route, arguing that the estuarine and inter-tidal approaches were habitats within the meaning of the EU Habitats Directive and the bay was an integral part of the Glenamoy river salmon fishery. It is a special area of conservation and a special protection area. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government defines a special area of conservation as one of the "prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level". As a special protection area, the Department describes it as "one of the most important wetland complexes in the west, supporting an excellent diversity of wintering winter-fowl species". It is of note that seven of the species that occur regularly are listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive and are supposed to be the subject of special conservation measures. This is where Shell wants to put a pipeline.

In March, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, granted a foreshore license to Shell. This allows the developer to construct the final 8 km section of pipeline linking the gas field to the terminal built inland at Bellanaboy. An Taisce criticised the decision as it has legal proceedings with An Bord Pleanála on the decision to put the pipeline through a special area of conservation and felt the Minister should have waited until legal proceedings were finished.

The Irish Times observed:

Former Minister for the Environment John Gormley had earlier pointed out he did not anticipate a foreshore licence recommendation for some time, due to the volume of up to 700 foreshore applications before his Department. However, last week, the Department of the Environment told The Irish Times that a decision on the Shell EP Ireland application, lodged in June 2010, would be made "as soon as possible". It denied yesterday there had been any "fast-tracking".

As my colleague Deputy Brian Stanley said earlier, there may be a new Government, but it's still Shell calling the shots in Mayo.

In many countries, oil and gas reserves are not used to the benefit of the people. Energy multinationals operate as if they are above the law. In Rossport, Shell operates on this basis and the State actively facilitates it in doing so. However, there is no reason Ireland cannot take a different approach to the benefit of everyone equally. If the Government did what we suggest, took ownership of our natural resources and set our terms of engagement with the oil companies rather than dancing to their tune, there would be an opportunity to transform Irish society. If Norway can find oil and ensure it remains a more egalitarian welfare state, there is no reason Ireland cannot. For five years, Hugo Chávez delivered free heating oil to low income Americans when prices were sky-rocketing. Chávez kept donating fuel to poor Americans even when his oil revenues were decreasing. It is a pity that Fine Gael does not look to Latin America for some inspiration when it comes to our own natural resources.

The Government should look to other more progressive countries where control of oil and gas activities has been harnessed for the good of people rather than for multinationals. There must be a national dialogue about how to use our wealth of natural resources to our collective benefit. There has been much talk with little reason from the people who oppose the Sinn Féin motion. A total of €420 billion worth of oil and gas has been discovered under Irish waters over the past 15 years but the Irish people have not seen much of it. What we are seeing is more recession, more cutbacks, more poverty, more inequality and more profit-making by multinationals.

I will end my contribution to the debate with a quote from James Fintan Lalor which, although it must be at least 200 years old, is still appropriate. "The principle I state, and mean to stand on this, that the ownership of Ireland, moral and material, up to the sun and down to the centre is vested in the people of Ireland."

This includes the rights of the Irish people to our natural resources and is as true now as it was when it was first said.

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