GARDAÍ yesterday arrested 12 protesters following clashes between Shell workers and locals on a Mayo beach near Glengad. The arrests of 11 men and one woman included that of Goldman Prizewinner, Willie Corduff, one of the five Rossport men who spent 94 days in jail in 2005 after protesting against Shell’s activities. The arrests sparked off a new wave of calls on Government to intervene and, after years of lobbying, to rethink its overall energy policy and its approach to facilitating and supporting the work of multi national companies. In other areas of the county where gas exploration is underway, many groups expressed their solidarity with the people of Rossport and Glengad.
In Donegal, where gas projects are, as yet, at the exploration stage, questions are being asked as to why the Government continues to doggedly pursue an energy policy which, in economic terms, has only marginal benefit to the people of this country. Gas exploration is currently being carried out off the coast of Donegal and further licenses have been recently announced by the Department of Marine, Communications and Natural Resources. A network of concerned groups have been established throughout the north west by MAOR; with groups in west Donegal, Inishowen, Letterkenny and Derry. In light of the arrests yesterday, MAOR issued a statement of support for those arrested in Glengad :
‘The use of compulsory orders to push a project through without the consent of the people, the lack of support by both local and central government for the rights of local people, the use of An Gardai Siochana to serve the interests of multi national companies; these are issues that effect us all. If the approach taken in Rossport is the template for how our government will facilitate private companies; every community which is subject to gas exploration off its coastline must stand in solidarity with the people of Rossport and Glengad.’
The arrests occurred as Shell contractors were carrying out works at Glengad. The area is where the controversial Corrib gas pipe-line is planned to come ashore. “Shell have no permission for the work they are carrying out at Glengad, since planning permission has not been granted for the proposed onshore section of their production pipeline,” said a Shell to Sea spokesman. Protestors claim Shell is preparing a landfall for the pipeline and say written queries to gardaí, Shell, the Department of Marine and local wildlife services have been left unanswered.
The situation in Mayo has been one where the state agencies, including local and central government, the Parks and Wildlife Service and the Gardai have continually supported and protected the interests of large, multi national companies with little regard for the rights and concerns of the local community. The arrests in Glengad, County Mayo yesterday are further evidence of the lengths that the state will go to in ensuring that the interests of multi national companies are placed above the rights of local communities.
At the local authority level, Mayo County Council in March 2008, gave the go ahead for a road to be expanded at the request of Shell, Statoil and Marathon specifically for the purpose of improved access to the gates of the proposed refinery at Ballanaboy. With the overall local government approach in Mayo appearing to be one of appeasement and facilitation, local residents have accused the council of being negligent in their duty to local communities. Thirty two submissions were received with respect to the proposed road expansion. According to Mayo County Council’s Director of Services, Peter Hynes, only three were in support of the road expansion. It should be noted that among the submissions was one that was signed by 111 people from the area, which raised questions on the purpose, lack of consultation, safety and environmental impact of the road.
However, MAOR were keen to highlight the fact that there has been a shift at local level in Donegal, where Donegal County Council recently passed a motion calling on the government to renegotiate the terms of the licenses granted to companies exploring for gas off the coast line. Given that this was the first time that any local authority had made a proposal which is a clear departure from the position of Central government, perhaps one of the lessons learned from Mayo is that where the rights and concerns of local people are ignored; finding a solution can become impossible to achieve. Six years after Shell to Sea first articulated their concerns with regard to the health, safety and environmental risks associated with the Corrib Gas Project, a resolution seems further away than ever.
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Background on MAOR
MAOR (Mobilise, Act, Overcome, Reclaim) , is an Irish word meaning 'guardian' or 'steward'. MAOR is a non-party political group based in the North West who have formed in response to the issues surrounding gas and oil exploration off the Donegal coast which commenced in 2008. We are keen to raise awareness of and generatediscussion on ownership and management of Ireland's natural resourcesincluding 'alternative' energy sources such as wind, wave and solar.To date, branches of MAOR have been formed in Letterkenny, Inishowen, Derry and South Donegal. MAOR events continue to engage people in a variety of creative, critical and issue based work including street theatre, public forums and meetings, films, workshops and media events.
..." Those who have stood up for their rights in Mayo have been bullied, arrested, jailed and demonised by sections of the media and by Government. MAOR will continue to support the people of Mayo and will continue to campaign for a better deal for the people of the North West. Every community which is subject to gas exploration off its coastline must stand in solidarity with the people of Rossport and Glengad..."
