Shell attempts to block Planning Inspector- Mayo News

[Shell to Sea]

The government supported scheme for a giant Shell refinery at Bellanaboy Bridge in County Mayo is subject to an appeal hearing by An Bord Pleanála. Amendments to the scheme have been made since planning permission was granted.

Back in 2002/2003 Senior Planning Inspector Kevin Moore was the chair of the oral hearing for the original Corrib refinery application, and published a very negative report about the proposal. One newspaper called his report "devastating". Planning permission was refused. Shell re-applied and senior staff met with government ministers, as did members of An Bord Pleanála. The plan was re-submitted, but this time there were no oral hearings. On appeal the refinery was granted planning permission.

Yesterday the Mayo News reported that Shell has made a request that Kevin Moore should not be allowed to oversee the process of examination of the amendments to their original proposal. When questioned about this, the company spokesman simply denied it.

Nevertheless, the Mayo News is satisfied that such a request was made. http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option ... &Itemid=38

Last month one of the experts employed by Shell to examine the pipeline route across land to the refinery, said the company had deliberately misled her on the types of habitats involved. The Dept of Environment also criticised Shell's approach to the planning process. An official was quoted saying: “It is the view of this Department that the Environmental Impact Statement submitted was deficient and the information provided was inadequate in a number of respects."

Last week the Minister for the Environment suggested that the Minister for Natural Resources should meet with people involved in the Shell to Sea protests to discuss the issue. Eamon Ryan, a staunch critic of the Corrib scheme while in opposition, has yet to comment.

[Heligoland]

Shell have signed a deal with Iraq to exploit natural gas. This is the first time since the 1970's that a western company has entered into an agreement with the Iraqis.

They will 49 per cent of the gas while the Iraqis will keep 51 per cent. Some of the gas may be shipped to Britain as LNG.
The former Iraqi Oil minister has criticized the deal, saying there is no need for Shell involvement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008 ... shell.iraq

Still, it's better than the deal Ireland gets. A lot better.

[Supermanpolitician]

So you are saying the government made a bad deal? I agree. They also made bad deals in other areas, e.g. LUAS 400 M over budget, port tunnell 600M over budget....but people don't threaten suicide over these things. Are you looking for validation?

[Heligoland]

HINT: If you want to see what point I am making, then read the post I made.

If you think the deal is a bad one, argue for the terms to be changed. If not on past deals, then on the new licences that the govt are still handing out at ridiculous rates which will see the people of Ireland giving away their resources for many years into the future.

It really says something when the puppet govt in Iraq gets a better deal from Shell than the puppet govt in Leinster House.