A complaint has been filed with the European Commission against proposals for a pipeline and £100 million gas terminal in north Mayo, following the gas find in the Corrib field 40 miles off Achill Island.
Green Party MEP Ms Patricia McKenna claims if Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI) goes ahead with the project it will encroach on three outstanding special areas of conservation (SAC) at Glenamoy in north-west Mayo.
"If this development is allowed to go ahead it will have very serious negative impacts on an area extremely rich ecologically, while there are very few economic advantages for the local residents as most workers would not be recruited locally", Ms McKenna said yesterday.
Earlier this year, EEI was granted planning permission by Mayo County Council for the terminal subject to conditions. Several appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanala. The Green Party is among those who have submitted "observations" to An Bord Pleanala on the matter.
Ms McKenna criticised the council for "their completely irresponsible and callous attitude towards the environment as planning permission was granted in the absence of any assessment by Duchas of the environmental impacts".
In her complaint, Ms McKenna said EEI chose the longest and most damaging route available in the EIS for laying their gas pipeline.
