Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey has ordered a new review of Shell E&P Ireland's plans for the Corrib gas pipeline in north Mayo on public safety grounds.
The development comes as a High Court hearing into the company's legal action against landowners in north Mayo was adjourned yesterday until Friday. The company is seeking an injunction against seven landowners who are opposing work on the gas pipeline route.
The seven, who own 50 per cent of the land required for the route, have expressed concern about health and safety aspects of the pipeline.
Mayo Independent TD Dr Jerry Cowley has questioned the independence of the review and has accused the Government of working "hand in glove" with the multinational in relation to the €900 million Corrib gas project.
The review requested by the Minister will be carried out by Andrew Johnston, a consultant who conducted a study of the proposed high-pressure gas pipeline in 2002, when the original application was made.
The review was ordered after the company reactivated its application for consent to install and commission phase three of the onshore pipeline last month. The Minister said that his department sought clarification and elaboration of "certain information and studies" on February 25th and officials had met representatives of Shell on March 4th. During this meeting, Shell advised the officials that it had appointed Shell Global Solutions to carry out a peer review of the qualified risk assessment (QRA) of the project.
The company has already agreed to release a "non-technical summary" of the QRA, to allay health and safety concerns.
Mr Dempsey said that Shell had agreed to submit all of these reports to the department by early April. His consultant would review the documents and report to him on all aspects of the scheme, especially public safety. He intended to publish these reports when they became available.
The original Bord Pleanála inspector's ruling on the Corrib gas field onshore terminal raised concerns about the health and safety of the high-pressure gas pipeline under the Seveso II directive. The inspector's report also said that the offshore terminal option should be examined.
However, when a revised planning application for the onshore terminal at Bellanaboy was lodged by the Corrib gas field owners, the Health and Safety Authority said that it had no remit in this area.
Dr Cowley has called for an independent assessment of the pipeline, which the Minister described as "unique both in Ireland and Europe" in its design.
