Round-table welcome for Corrib talks

Round-table welcome for Corrib talks


Áine Ryan

COMMUNITY GROUPS  in north Mayo, which last Friday met two Government ministers and Shell officials, have claimed that round-table acceptance of their pivotal role in the resolution of the dispute marks a significant step forward.  
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), the Chairman of Pobal Chill Chomáin, Mr Vincent McGrath, said: “There is an acceptance now by the Ministers and developers that Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile represent the views of the majority of the community.”
Minister Éamon Ó Cuív also confirmed yesterday that: “As far as we are concerned, the two ministers recognise the two groups, Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile, have a central role in these discussions and we hope to continue them.”
However, he also emphasised to The Mayo News the role of all the other groups partaking in the Community Forum for Development in North West Mayo, established by he and Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan, last November.
In a joint statement also, on behalf of both ministers, last Friday’s meeting – which lasted for almost five hours – was described as ‘full and frank’.
“Core issues were discussed, and it was a greed to give some time for all parties to reflect,” the Ministers said.
When contacted by The Mayo News yesterday, Shell responded with the following statement: “We are glad to have had the opportunity to meet on Friday with the groups who oppose the project. The discussions were open, frank and constructive. We very much appreciate the time and effort that the Chairman, Joe Brosnan, and Ministers Ryan and Ó Cuív have put into this initiative.”
It continued: “We remain open to having further discussions with any individual or group who wishes to talk to us about the Corrib project.”
However, the spokesman declined to comment on the representativeness of the community groups. 
Along with Mr Vincent McGrath, two other Rossport Five members, Micheál Ó Seighin and Willie Corduff, as well as Fr Michael Nallen, Mary Corduff and John Monaghan represented community group Pobal Chill Chomáin at the first direct talks with Shell, since the jailing of the men in 2005.
Welcoming last Friday’s ‘candid discussions’ about ‘the core community issues of health and safety’, spokesman for Pobal Chill Chomáin, Mr Monaghan, observed that last-minute changing of Shell personnel for the discussions ‘was not acceptable’ and had caused suspicion.
“We haven’t indications so far that Shell is fully committed to the talks but they did appear interested,” Mr Monaghan said. “Regarding the ministers, I believe they want to get it solved, sooner rather than later, which is exactly what we want.”
In a joint statement with community business group Pobal le Chéile – represented at the meeting by Ciarán Ó Murchú and Anthony Irwin – it was stated that both groups ‘will continue to work with all parties to bring about an agreed solution to this damaging and unnecessary dispute, which continues to inflict pain and suffering on our community’.
Meanwhile, the controversial project remains the subject of an ongoing High Court challenge while An Bord Pleanála is still assessing revised plans for the modified pipeline route and planning approval for the beach valve station at Glengad.
Opponents of the project, Shell to Sea mounted a small protest at the talks. Mr Naoise Ó Mongáin told The Irish Times that the group had not been invited to partake in Friday’s discussions.
“Even if we were invited, we would not talk to Shell while Maura Harrington [his wife] is in Mountjoy jail,” said Mr Ó Mongáin. Ms Harrintgton was recently jailed for 28 days for assaulting a garda.
Pobal Chill Chomáin will hold a public meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday) to brief the community on last week’s meeting, held at Minister Ó Cuív’s Dublin offices.