If Enda Kenny wants to be Taoiseach, let him show his leadership qualities by addressing a bitter controversy in his own back yard, the protracted Corrib gas saga. That is the view of Labour town councillor, Harry Barrett, who yesterday told The Mayo News that ‘what has gone on in north Mayo, in the name of the State, has been an insult to democracy and the rights of the citizen under the constitution’.
“This controversy has gone on for far too long. Enda Kenny aspires to be leader of the country and this is on our own doorsteps and now needs to be resolved. We have a multi-billion euro resource on the edge of this county and we have had nothing but community turmoil over it,” said Cllr Barrett.
Lorna Siggins, The Irish Times,An Irishwoman's Diary, Sat 28th Oct 2006
Here's a story which illustrates the impact that a controversial project is having on a close-knit community. Nine years ago this week, emergency services received a report that four people had not returned from a boat trip to Belderrig pier in north Mayo.
Having travelled from Dublin on Friday to visit Pat O’Donnell in Castlerea Prison, I was encouraged by Pat stating that he was well treated and well respected by prison staff. However, it is an outrage that Pat O’Donnell finds himself in prison at all. He is a victim of the criminalisation of decent people involved in peaceful protest in Erris which highlights the handover of an entire natural resource to a multinational corporation, with not a cent in royalties for the Irish people.
News Release - Issued by Shell to Sea - April 12th, 2015 - For immediate release
-- Shell to Sea send submission on RTE's Public Service Statement --
Shell to Sea have today sent in a submission to RTE as part of RTE's public consultation on the updating of their Public Service Statement [1]. In the submission, Shell to Sea claimed that RTE had failed to inform the public in an honest and balanced manner on the Corrib Gas project.