Efforts to resolve the dispute over the Corrib gas pipeline have had a setback today with the news that the Rossport Five have halted their involvement with a mediation process.
Peter Cassells was appointed as mediator last year by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey. Mediation formally began on January 25th.
The five men, jailed last year over the opposition to the Co Mayo pipeline, accused the minister of interfering with the mediation process, and said that they found it unacceptable. As a result, they have suspended their involvement with Mr Cassell's work.
Mr Dempsey expressed regret over the decision, but denied that he had interfered in any way with the process.
"A range of issues of concern to the local community, including the five men from Rossport, have been raised with the mediator Mr Cassells, which only I as Minister can deal with," he said.
"I have not interfered with the mediation process, obviously as part of the mediation process it was necessary and clearly understood that these issues would be conveyed to me and that Mr Cassells would brief me on people's concerns."
The Minister also confirmed that Mr Cassells has asked to meet the five men to discuss the situation and decide how to proceed.
The Rossport Five were jailed for contempt of court last year after they breached a High Court injunction taking out by Shell E&P against the protesters.
Brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, Micheál Ó Seighín, Willie Corduff and Brendan Philbin spent 94 days in prison for refusing to purge their contempt and give an undertaking that they would not interfere with work on the pipeline.
