Ahern rejects calls for renewed Corrib gas talks

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said it is the Government's view that time for negotiations on the Corrib gas dispute was over and gardai must be allowed impose the rule of law.

Mr Ahern was speaking following violent scenes between gardaí and a group opposing the construction of the terminal at Bellanaboy, near Belmullet.

Activists from Dublin, Cork and Galway joined Shell to Sea campaigners and local residents this morning to block a convoy bringing workers to the processing plant.

Gardaí baton-charged the estimated 200 protesters to move them off the road as they attempted to block workers gaining access to the site.

A Garda spokesman confirmed a number of gardaí and protestors recieved minor injuries. One man and one woman were arrested for public order offences.

Mr Ahern today dismissed the prospect of intervening to arrange renewed talks between Shell and the protestors. Shell to Sea's call for a commission of inquiry into siting of the Shell gas terminal was rejected by Minister for Natural Resourcers Noel Dempsey and Shell last Monday "Quite frankly from the Government's point of view, that's it. The negotiations are over," he said, during a constituency visit to Sligo.

"The rule of law has to be implemented and the work goes on. If there are those who try to frustrate that, they are breaking the law and it is a matter for the gardai to enforce that."

Speaking later on Mid West Radio, he said all reasonable concerns in the dispute have been dealt with. "If a small group of people from around the country gather in Bellanaboy and make it difficult for gas to come ashore, that does not make the project wrong. We've been through the process. If you ask me, in my view, that's it. We have to move on."

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell accused Sinn Féin of hijacking the Corrib gas protests for its own ends and interfering with gardaí doing their duty.

"I want to say to Sinn Féin: uphold the law, support the police north and south," he said. "Stop interfering with the gardaí, they are doing their duty. Provo tactics won't work."

Sinn Fein described Mr McDowell's comments as "scare tactics designed to deceive the public".

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he strongly condemned those responsible for the violence.

"The safety of both the gardai and protesters is being put at risk and it appears that this violence is being orchestrated by outside forces who have no connection with the local community. Their activities are also tying up significant Garda resources at a time when they are badly needed elsewhere.

"I call on those members of the local community who are engaged in peaceful protest to disassociate themselves from the troublemakers," the Mayo TD said.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent appealed for calm and warned that unless there was meaningful dialogue between all sides, "the situation could deteriorate further".

Sinn Féin TD Aengus O Snodaigh criticised this morning's unrest, describing it as "regrettable" and said that people were angry that peaceful protests in Ireland were coming under attack.

Michael O Seighin, one of five men from the Rossport area who were jailed last year for 94 days for their protest over the Corrib gas pipeline, described the scene as chaotic. "The violence in this place has come from the cops all the time," he said. "They are charging around the place."

Maura Harrington, a leading member of the Shell to Sea campaign group, was hospitalised for neck and back injuries after she drove minivan into a line of gardaí. She was pulled from her car by gardaí, who smashed the windscreen and the side window of her car with truncheons before removing her from the vehicle.

She claimed today that she wasn't driving the car, but that it was pushed and later showed that the key of her car was broken. Gardaí said they feared officers would be pinned between her car and other vehicles at the scene.

Last month Ms Harrington, a school principal, was treated in hospital for a head injury sustained during a confrontation with gardaí.

Meanwhile, activists held events around Ireland today during a national day of protest against Shell. The peaceful protests were being organised worldwide to highlight the eleventh anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni anti-Shell activists by the Nigerian state. About 30 demonstrators gathered outside the Shell offices on Leeson Street in Dublin to mark the anniversary. Action was also organised for Cork, Clare and Sligo.