Government Looks For Way Forward On Corrib Gas Pipeline

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, T.D., and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuiv, T.D., have this week announced a Government initiative to foster economic development in North West Mayo and facilitate a dialogue on local issues relating to the Corrib Gas project.

In launching this initiative both Ministers emphasised that the Government is determined to ensure that the Corrib Gas is brought ashore for the benefit of the country and the local community.

The Government will establish a Community Forum for Development in North West Mayo. The Forum will be chaired by Mr. Joe Brosnan.

The Chair will engage with all relevant local community and interest groups. Shell and representatives of the local workforce will also be invited.

Local elected representatives, a number of Government Departments, Mayo County Council and representatives from state agencies and the Gardaí Síochána will be present.

The Forum will have a wide mandate and consider, inter alia:

• All aspects of local economic development including infrastructure, energy, tourism (including cultural tourism) and leisure and marine activities
• Local social development
• Promotion of a strong positive image of the area, highlighting its natural advantages
• Environmental issues

Minister Ryan said, "The Corrib Gas project has been a protracted and sometimes painful process for many of the people involved.

"The Government has a duty to protect the rights of all its citizens.

"This includes local communities and the developer who is working under statutory consents granted.

"The Government also has a duty to act in the best interests of the Irish people. For energy security of supply and economic development, I believe this project is in the national interest.

"The Forum will work to secure local interests and engage with their concerns." Minister Ó Cuiv said, "North West Mayo and Erris in particular have suffered huge emigration and population loss in the past.

"Its people often had to go to the industrial cities of Britain and America to find employment.

"The Erris region's most important assets are its people. Divided, they cannot reach their potential.

"What we aim to do with the Forum is to seek to create the common ground for the positive development of the area and to mediate differences in a constructive way."

Chairperson Joe Brosnan said, "The purpose of the Forum is to provide an opportunity for dialogue between people with widely differing views. Chairing the discussions in the Forum will be a big challenge. I will do my very best to be an honest broker for frank, open and constructive dialogue over the months ahead."

The first Forum will take place in Mayo within one month and will continue on an ongoing basis until such time as the Ministers and Chairperson believe its work is complete.