Shell should take the initiative and lift injunction against 'Rossport 5'
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today called upon
Shell
Ireland to 'seize the initiative and lift the injunction against the
'Rossport
5' in order to facilitate dialogue between local people and the
multinational'.
Ms
McDonald made her call after Shell Ireland announced that it would
defer
laying the offshore section of pipeline for the Corrib gas field
until
next year.
Speaking today Ms McDonald said:
"Shell
Ireland's announcement that it is to suspend work on its off-shore
pipe-laying
operation is no more than a red-herring. What people are most
concerned
about is the on-shore operation and a pipeline which will pose a
real
danger to the local community in Rossport. In actual fact campaigners
are
arguing that the pipeline should be based at sea, so Shell are not
facilitating
local people in any way by this latest announcement.
"Shell has
said that they have suspended the work in order to allow for a
period
of discussion and dialogue. If they are genuine about meaningful
dialogue,
then they will seize the initiative and lift the injunction
against the
men in Clover Hill prison. These men have spent too long in
prison
already because of their honourable stance on this issue.
"I also
want to take this opportunity to express solidarity with the men
and
their families, and all of those who have been campaigning for their
freedom.
I also want to reiterate my call for the immediate release of the
men."
ENDS