Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I received a telephone call from a young man during the week. He is a young newly-qualified engineer with a job with a company which got some work from Shell and who is working down there. He spoke of people coming outside his door, blowing horns and intimidating families. It is quite appalling. This idea of balaclava-clad people breaking in and attacking workers is something which I will not and cannot support. If we put it up to Shell with stringent regulations, laws and requirements, arraign it in front of boards and make it jump the bar, and it does all that, then we, in a democracy, have a clear responsibility to ensure the law of the land is maintained. What is happening in Mayo, where people are fearful of speaking out and being intimidated, is far from left-wing activity. It smacks more of fascism. All last week's activities must be investigated. I have heard claim and counter-claim and spoken to people on all sides. However, I have no time for balaclava-clad people in the dead of night imposing and supporting terror. No democratically elected person can have time for such activity. I completely disagree with the Government handing away the mineral rights of this country for a song to Shell and to others.