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March 2012

Dáil Debate where Bertie Ahern describes his meeting with Shell

By: 
oireachtas.ie

1. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the president of a company (details supplied) as confirmed by him in Dáil Éireann on 1 October 2003; when and the location in which it took place; the purpose of the meeting; the names of the persons who were in attendance; and the follow-up meetings or other contacts with the company that have taken place with him or officials of his Department. [23280/03]

How much is the Barryroe oil find actually worth to us?

By: 
TheJournal.ie

WA map from the Providence Resources website showing the various oil and gas prospects it is examining off Irish waters.ITH THE ECONOMY returning to recession this week, having shrank in two consecutive quarters, and with the continued disruptions to a deal on the Anglo promissory notes, the news last week that Ireland had struck oil may have seemed like a golden ticket.

Posted Date: 
26 March 2012

Masterclass in spin by Garda Ombudsman

By: 
William Hederman - Village

The independent Garda watchdog produced a report about the Corrib Garda ‘rape tape’ that misinformed the public and undermined the women who brought the recording to public attention. By William Hederman.


Image taken from article on the Garda Ombudsman here

It was one of the most extraordinary news stories of 2011. On March 31st, Gardaí in north Mayo arrested two anti-Shell campaigners and seized a video camera. The Garda sergeant and colleagues then inadvertently recorded themselves joking about threatening to rape and deport one of the two women in their custody before handing the camera back. The recording was posted online, where it was listened to by more than 100,000 people within days. It provided a disturbing glimpse into the minds of some of the very people to whom women are expected to report rape. However, the saga took a more worrying twist four months later.

Posted Date: 
24 March 2012

Press Release: Mahon meaningless if corrupt Corrib project continues

-- What was behind Ahern’s and Burke’s oil and gas giveaway legislation? -- 

 

Shell to Sea today called for the halting of the Corrib Gas project and an investigation to ascertain whether disgraced former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern or other politicians received corrupt payments for their facilitation of the Corrib Gas project and their role in Ireland’s oil and gas giveaway.

 

The Mahon report stated: “Corruption in Irish political life was both endemic and systemic. It affected every level of government, from some holders of top ministerial offices to some local councillors, and its existence was widely known and widely tolerated”.

 

Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington said: "Over the next few days and weeks, it will be heard that this sort of corruption is a thing of the past. Yet here in Mayo, we are living beside a monument to corruption that is still being forced through by the current Government. It is time to call a halt to this shambles of a project and to hold a full investigation." 

Black gold

By: 
Monica Muller - Letter to the Irish Independent

I wish to take issue with your article: 'State to cash in on oil strike' (March 19) and the claim that "the State will benefit as it taxes these profits at between 25pc and 40pc".

The report did not mention that oil and gas licence holders are entitled to offset ALL exploration and development costs for 25 years against any tax liabilities.

Posted Date: 
22 March 2012

Press Release: Ballyroe oil find exposes absurdity of Rabbitte's oil & gas licensing

-- Discovery will not guarantee any jobs, security of supply or other benefits for Ireland --

The discovery of oil at the Ballyroe field off Co Cork by Providence Resources exposes the absurdity of Pat Rabbitte's rush to hand out oil and gas exploration licenses last October, Shell to Sea has claimed. On October 17th 2011, despite widespread calls for a moratorium, Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte issued exploration licences for 250,000sq km of the Atlantic shelf. [1][2]

Rabbitte proceeded to issue licences just as Providence was embarking on what it called "the largest co-ordinated multi-basin drilling programme carried out offshore Ireland" and also before an Oireachtas committee has reported back on its review of Ireland's oil and gas terms.[3]

At the time, a former Statoil board member, Stein Bredal, questioned Pat Rabbitte's haste in issuing the licenses: “Energy prices are only going up, so why is your Minister in such a hurry, when he should be guaranteeing jobs and a greater return to the Irish taxpayer if there is a find?”[4]

William Hederman on the myths about oil find off Cork coast

By: 
soundmigration - YouTube

[Shell to Sea] Journalist William Hederman and Oil Executve David Horgan discuss the recent Barryroe oil find on Newstalk.  David Horgan is the MD of Petrel Resources, which is one of the companies that Pat Rabbitte gave a licence for oil and gas exploration off the Irish coast to, last year.

Posted Date: 
20 March 2012

There will be OIL !

By: 
longgoodbyeIreland - YouTube

[Shell to Sea] Here is video edit comprising of the promotional video from Providence Resources on the recent Barryroe oil find and also a very suitable clip from "There will be Blood" at the end of the video.

 

Posted Date: 
20 March 2012

Green vote

By: 
M O Gil - Letters to Irish Independent

Should the 2012 referendum be expanded to include environmental issues, which are ultimately central to most fiscal policies? Three environmental concerns in particular should be voted on: Yes or No to the 10-year Shell Corrib Gas debacle; Yes or No to fracking, the proposed injection of chemical-laced water and sand into rock to release gas in the Lough Allen and Clare basins; and Yes or No to the Teagasc proposal, (the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland), to introduce genetically modified potatoes into this country.

Posted Date: 
17 March 2012

Shell to Sea picket retirement party of 'rape tape' Garda Sergeant - Gardaí confiscated offending placards

By: 
The Connaught Telegraph

GARDAÍ arrested one person and confiscated placards at a demonstration by Corrib Gas protestors outside a retirement party for a senior officer who was involved in the recent 'rape tape' controversy.

The incidents occurred on Friday night last as members of the garda force and their families attended the retirement party for Sergeant James Gill who has retired after almost 33 years service.

Posted Date: 
14 March 2012