Minister should stay out of planning process - Ring

19 September 2002
Fine Gael Deputy Michael Ring today (Thursday) accused Minister for Labour Affairs, Frank Fahey, of trying to subvert the authority of the Planning Board by calling for a consensus to deliver Corrib Gas to North Mayo.
'Minister Fahey saw fit to interfere in the planning process by expressing his view in local media last week, that the benefits of the Corrib find could be lost to Mayo if the decision by An Bord Pleanala on the Bellanaboy terminal was to be a negative one. Does Minister Fahey, not realise that An Bord Pleanála had quasi-judicial powers in respect of planning? Does he not realise that his interference may cast aspersions on the independence and credibility of An Planning Board's decision?
'I have met with the Managing Director of Shell/Enterprise Energy, Mr Andy Pyle and have made it clear to him that I could not support the terminal project as it was trampling over the rights of the people of Bellanaboy.'
'I support bringing the gas ashore in Erris but not at the expense of the people there. Their rights and concerns have not been adequately addressed by Shell/Enterprise Energy and until that happens I am standing by the people of Bellanaboy.'
From: http://www.finegael.ie/fine-gael-news.cfm/NewsID/21800/action/detail/year/2004/month/4/level/page/aid/186/