Press Release: Desperate measures for a desperate Corrib project

--  Minister White slips consent to Shell during Christmas period --

Shell to Sea have called the granting by Alex White of consent to operate the Corrib Gas pipeline - desperate and disgraceful. Permission was granted despite Shell's EPA consent to operate the Corrib Gas refinery currently being admitted for hearing before the High Court. [1]
Shell to Sea is of the view that Shell possibly had contractual obligations which required that Corrib gas flow before end 2015 so they once again snapped their fingers at government to do the needful - in this instance the government of 'law and order' has shown itself no different to Fianna Fáil.

Spokesperson Terence Conway stated "Over the years campaigners have been constantly lectured by politicians about the need to respect the laws of the land and courts, but again with Corrib we are seeing there is one law for them; another law for us."

"Minister White included 20 conditions with his consent, but as we've seen previously Shell treat conditions by the regulatory authorities with total contempt."

Mr Conway continued "It is the height of hypocrisy for Minister Alex White to talk, in his press release, about transitioning to a low carbon economy where he announced he was giving consent to operate a refinery to Shell, one of the most destructive companies the planet has ever seen"

The Department of Energy has continued the habit of burying the news of its dealings with Corrib by granting consent during the Christmas period. This follows on from the decision by the Dept. of Energy acting minister Pat Carey to grant permission for the Corrib pipeline's construction on the day of the general election in 2011 and Frank Fahey's grants of consent in 2001 and 2002.

It is widely accepted that no or minimal tax will be paid by the developer of the Corrib Gas Project. Former Managing Director of the Corrib Gas project, Brian O’Cathain previously stated in 2010 “That Corrib will never pay tax”.[2] While recently a Vermilion investor profile estimated it would be 7 years before any tax is paid. [3]

Spokesperson Maura Harrington - who is one of four locals currently involved in the Judicial Review on the EPA decision (application granted on December 14th) - stated "The Judicial Review of Alex White's decision should prove interesting".

ENDS

For more information contact:            
Maura Harrington:    087 9591474
Terence Conway:     086 0866264
http://www.shelltosea.com
http://www.facebook.com/shelltosea
http://twitter.com/#!/ShellToSea

Links

[1] Mayo locals bring legal challenge to Shell Corrib Gas licence - Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/mayo-locals-bring-legal-challenge-to-shell-corrib-gas-licence-1.2455112

[2] Corrib 'will never pay tax', says project's former MD – News Release – Dublin Shell to Sea
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/news-release-corrib-will-never-pay-tax-says-projects-former-md

[3] Vermilion Investor Profile - SeekingAlpha
http://seekingalpha.com/article/3754506-vermilion-energy-still-solid-and-diversified-but-corrib-is-in-court-again