Observers from the human rights group Frontline have sent a party of our to the to monitor the continued stand-off at the Shell Corrib gas terminal site in north Mayo.
The group, which is made up of a Sri Lankan lawyer and a French lawyer plus to Frontline members will monitor proceedings in north Mayo between protesters and gardaí who are escorting workers to the site in Bellanaboy.
The observers will return to Dublin before they will file any report on their findings.
Up to 200 protesters gathered at a Garda checkpoint about one mile from the facility this morning.
About 150 gardaí have been brought in to supplement the local force.
Inspector Ray McHugh of the Garda Press Office said this morning that protesters had taken a "change of tack" by assembling away from the main entrance to the construction site.
"We corralled them and the workers got through without incident," he said.
"The protesters have not been sharing their thoughts with us. That's up to them, but we are eager to facilitate a lawful protest."
He said the gardaí would remain there "as long is necessary and in as many numbers as necessary to ensure that people could go about their employment without intimidation.
Spokesman for the protesters, Dr Mark Garavan said locals felt intimidated by the Garda operation. "They fell this community has been set upon by an enormous Garda force," he added.
Shell said yesterday the company was pleased that it had been able to re-enter the terminal site after more than a year.
Consultation with landowners on a modified pipeline route would begin "shortly". The company would not be paying for the extra Garda presence, the spokesman said.