Campaigners bid to make pipeline protest an election issue
27/06/2006 - 16:24:53
A campaign against a proposed Shell gas pipeline in north Co Mayo was today launched as a general election issue.
As the first anniversary of the jailing of the Rossport Five for 94 days occurs on Thursday, supporters launched an information leaflet which will be distributed to every household in Dublin.
The event outside the Dáil was supported by several TDs including Dan Boyle of the Greens, Joe Costello of Labour, Independent Jerry Cowley, John Gormley of the Greens, Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins and Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan and MEP Mary Lou McDonald.
Mary Corduff, wife of Rossport Five member Willie Corduff, said people in every constituency must make the Rossport campaign a general election issue with local candidates because it can affect every constituency.
“What is happening in Rossport in North Mayo can happen in any community. It’s a much broader issue of protecting our natural resources which must be utilised to the benefit of the people of Ireland instead of being given away.
“This leaflet will ensure that when a general election candidate comes knocking on a door, the householder will be fully briefed on the campaign and can ask the candidate where they stand on the issue.”
The leaflet urges the public to contact local media and their local TD on the issue or visit the ’Shell To Sea’ solidarity camp in north Mayo.
To mark the first anniversary on Thursday of the jailing of the Rossport Five by the High Court, supporters will lay a wreath at the grave of former Land League founder Michael Davitt in Straide in Co Mayo.
Micheal O Seighin, Willie Corduff, Phillip McGrath, Brendan Philbin and Vincent McGrath had refused to obey a court order stopping them from blocking construction work on the project.
Campaigners are also planning a number of fundraising initiatives in coming weeks, including a walk from Rossport to Dublin, beginning on July 29.
Shell aims to build a gas refinery seven miles inland to process resources from the Corrib Gas Field.
However local residents have raised health and safety concerns and insist the facility should be constructed off-shore.
A campaign spokesman said today: “We support in principle the development of the Corrib gas project.
“However, we also want to ensure the very highest standards of health and safety of local residents.”
Rossport “wives” Maureen McGrath and Cathleen Ui Sheighin also attended today’s event.
