Doherty demands full investigation of Shell in Ireland

Published: 23 April, 2004

Sinn Féin Candidate for the EU elections in the North West, Pearse Doherty, has called for a full investigation into the activities of Shell in Ireland following revelations that Shell have lied about their international oil and gas reserves. The company admitted earlier this week that they over-estimated those reserves by 20%, and are currently under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Their renewed attempt to secure planning permission for the building of a pipe line and facility connected to the Corrib Gas field will be decided on shortly.

Mr. Doherty said:

'That Shell have lied in this manner will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with their practises in Nigeria and in this country. Sinn Fein and others have for long questioned their role in mineral exploration here and have opposed their plans to proceed with the Corrib Gas development. We have done so, not because we are opposed to the development of our natural resources but, on the contrary, that those resources are never going to be developed properly and with benefit to the Irish people under the arrangements that currently govern the sector.

'I am calling on the Minister for Natural Resources Dermot Ahern to launch a wide-ranging investigation into all aspects of Shell's activities in Ireland. Our spokesperson on natural resources, Martin Ferris, will be questioning Minister Dermot Ahern concerning his Department's relationship with Shell and the fact that the state has no independent verification of the information on reserves and other activities undertaken by Shell other than that supplied by the company. The seriousness of this was again highlighted recently where information given to Minster Ahern regarding the possible effect of the Donncarton landslide on the route of the proposed pipeline was shown to have been misleading.'ENDS

From: http://sinnfein.ie/news/detail/4393