SEANAD REPORT:MEMBERS ON both sides of the Seanad expressed concern yesterday about the intimidation of workers in Dublin and North Mayo.

Joe O’Toole (Ind) said the actions of some of those opposed to the Shell gas development project smacked of fascism. “I have no time for balaclava-clad people in the dead of night imposing terror and supporting terror.”

He did not disagree with complaints that this country’s mineral rights had been handed over to Shell and to others, but that was a separate issue. It was right that Shell should be made to jump over the regulatory bar.

But if it did, there was a clear democratic responsibility to ensure that the law of the land was maintained. The Government should take control of this and support the gardaí.

He said the Ministers for Communications and for Gaeltacht Affairs should end their popularity contest in the locality and take action on the issue.

There was still a danger that people would express their anger over economic matters by rejecting the Lisbon Treaty again, Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) warned.

Eugene Regan (FG) noted that in yesterday's edition of The Irish TimesNaoise Nunn, who had been heavily involved in the original Libertas campaign on the treaty had "abandoned the Libertas ship".