Áine Ryan
A MEETING of the Community Forum for Development in North West Mayo, due to be held in Erris yesterday (Monday0, was cancelled at the eleventh hour, The Mayo News understands. A spokesman for the recently appointed Minster for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey said a new date for a rescheduled meeting had not yet been decided upon.
According to a Shell to Sea statement yesterday, this meeting’s agenda was to include a review of current Shell investment in Erris, a presentation on Licensing Terms and Conditions by Eamon Ryan’s department and a discussion on the future direction of the forum.
Shell to Sea spokeswoman, Maura Harrington stated: “It was unbelievably crass of Shell and Government ministers to consider holding their ‘Funny Forum’ in the heart of Rossport while Shell to Sea local fisherman Pat O’Donnell and Shell to Sea campaigner Niall Harnett remain in Castlerea Prison.”
Moreover, the protest group also stated itwas time the forum ‘died a natural death’ since it neither addressed ‘the health, safety and human rights concerns at local level and the scandalous giveaway of our natural resources when we most need them’.
The forum is chaired by retired senior civil servant, Joe Brosnan and has been attended by a broad range of interested parties and groups. However, it has been boycotted by community group Pobal Chill Chomáin and Shell to Sea, who staged a silent protest at its last meeting.
