SIPTU's offshore oil and gas committee has called on the Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, to suspend the foreshore licence granted to Shell for the Corrib gas field project, writes Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent.
The committee's spokesman, Mr Pádraig Campbell, issued the call as Mayo County Council is expected to announce its decision on the application for an €800 million onshore terminal at Bellanaboy.
A ruling is due on February 19th, but there is speculation that it may be deferred to allow for submissions on the environmental impact statement. The licence to cover the routing of the pipeline from the gas field into the north Mayo coast was granted by former marine miniser Mr Frank Fahey. Galway-based engineer, Mr Brian Coyle, has claimed the pipeline will be in breach of the Seveso II directive as it runs under Dooncarton Hill where landslides occurred last September.