Eamon Ryan gets free seat on bus to Bellanaboy

mayo | miscellaneous | news report

Monday November 05, 2007 15:14

by Dublin Shell to Sea

Green TD has been prominent campaigner for Shell to Sea

Dublin Shell to Sea has offered Minister Eamon Ryan TD a free seat on its bus to Co Mayo for the major sit-down blockade planned for next Friday (9th November) at Shell's inland refinery site at Bellanaboy.

Eamon Ryan addresses the crowd at a Shell to Sea rally in O'Connell St on July 23rd, 2005 (pic: William Hederman)

Ryan was a prominent Shell to Sea campaigner and a vocal critic of the Corrib Gas project for several years prior to joining the government in June 2007. He now has responsibility for the project, as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Friday's blockade will mark one year since a baton-charge by gardai on peaceful protestors at Bellanaboy and 12 years since the execution of nine anti-Shell activists in Ogoniland by the Nigerian government (10th November 1995).

At their national conference in February 2007, the Green Party adopted a resolution that, in government, it would not sign a pipeline consent for the Corrib gas project until “a full, independent review” had been conducted into the project.

Upon his appointment as Minister last June, Ryan acknowledged that the party would be reneging on this commitment.

A message on the Green Party website in December 2005 stated that the party was urging "all members of the Green Party ... to support and join the Shell to Sea Campaign", and was "pressing for the gas to be refined at sea ... We must continue our efforts in support of this campaign which has every chance of success."

Speaking in Dáil Éireann on November 24th, 2005, Eamon Ryan raised the question of the perceived independence of An Bord Pleanála: "When An Bord Pleanála made its decision on the first planning application for a gas terminal building in Bellanaboy, the inspector ... concluded that the proposed site was unequivocally an incorrect choice."

"Anyone who examines from the outside the process that led to a decision being made on the appeal in this instance would agree that it was not conducted in an open and fair manner. ... I have serious concerns that the Government constantly took Shell's side, in effect, throughout this process. ... I contend that he [Taoiseach Bertie Ahern] put remarkable and untold pressure on An Bord Pleanála to accept the Government's will and to do the right thing in this case."

Dublin Shell to Sea is awaiting a response from Minister Ryan to its offer of a free seat. Other Dublin-based campaigners will be paying 30 euro return (or 25 euro for unwaged) for the bus journey, which leaves Parnell Square North at 6.30pm on Thursday 8th November. Phone 085-1609850 for bus information.

Meanwhile, in an Irish Times online poll last week, 84 per cent of respondents felt that Shell's Corrib Gas project would not be good for the local community:
http://www.ireland.com/head2head/archive/

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Comments (12 of 12)

I will not do the right thing.

by Eamonn Ryan - Minister for Shell / Fianna Fail / Green Party.

Mon Nov 05, 2007 16:05

When I held no responsibility for Corrib, I feigned my support for those who took responsibility for their own protection. I paid wholehearted lip-service to a community in crisis.

Now my time is come and I make my choice. I have failed the most important test - the test of my integrity.

I am nothing now, but the vanity of my ministerial cloak sustains me, blindly.

Eamonn Ryan pumps for Shell.

(Shell Shareholders)

by Ced

Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:19

O'KEEFFE, Ned (Cork East): Royal Dutch Shell Plc
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=7478

O'KEEFFE, Jim (Cork South West): Shell Petroleum
http://www.daileireann.ie/viewtxt.asp?DocID=161&CatID=2...+2002

DARDIS, John: Shell Transport and Trading Plc., Shell Centre, London, energy, oil and gas;
www.oireachtas.ie/documents/publications/Reg1Janto31Decs.doc

MANSERGH, Martin
www.oireachtas.ie/documents/publications/Reg1Janto31Decs.doc

Any More?

Veiled Threats

by Stirrer - Incognito

Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:14

Beware, those who hide behind a shield of umbiguous self servicing righteousness, for they seek only to cause trouble and promote dissent.

'umbiguous self servicing righteousness'

by polly

Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:22

What the hell is that?

Answer

by Sean

Tue Nov 06, 2007 15:35

'umbiguous self servicing righteousness'

What the hell is that?

--- Good DOPE

'umbiguous'

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League

Tue Nov 06, 2007 19:38

Whatever the hell it was, it appears the post that generated it struck a nerve somewhere!

Thanks, Ced - as you say, any more out there?

Any further work on this would be much appreciated.

Emailing around the world

by The Yank - not confused local

Wed Nov 07, 2007 00:54

Have been emailing people and organizations around the planet earth to tell them whats been happening in Bellanaboy, MAYO and asked for support by emailing our Government officials at webmaster@taoaiserch.gov.ie ; info@transport.ie ;
ceann.comhairle@oireachtas.ie and epdublin@europarl.eu.int ; to tell them; that the whole world is watching, how the Irish Government are treating the local people and abusing their power of JUSTICE. And if some more could come to the protest on Friday mornin...at 7am Keep up the great stance S/hell OuT!!

begrudgery

by jd

Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:54

Thanks Yank.

Ignore the begrudgers, traitors and sycophants. They contribute less than nothing to solving this problem.

big brither editor

by give and take

Wed Nov 07, 2007 21:56

so Mr Indymedia Editor.......we see what you have in common with Minister Ryan......ye both Funked it !

Response From Eamon Ryan to Dublin Shell to Sea

by Gra - Dublin Shell To Sea

Thu Nov 08, 2007 09:40

Dear Ms ****,

Minister Ryan wishes to thank you for the offer of a free seat on the bus to the day of action in Bellanaboy, Co. Mayo on the 9 th November.

The Minister is unable to take up this offer as he has a number of meetings scheduled for that day.

Yours sincerely,

Sinéad O'Reilly

Diary Secretary to Minister Eamon Ryan

responsibility

by lulu

Thu Nov 08, 2007 21:38

Minister Ryan has a lot of questions to answer regarding his conduct & inaction. He should have a pile of mail about this matter of turning his coat and betraying those he claimed to support.

Correspondence

by Reality - Green Party Member

Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:35

In response to Gra and LuLu, Have the above written to Eamonn Ryan and asked him to clarify his position? if they have lets see a copy of the document on headed notepaper.

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Eamon Ryan gets free seat on bus to Bellanaboy

Comments (12 of 12)