A JUDGE will rule today in a case in which An Taisce and two local residents have initiated High Court challenges aimed at quashing An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for the construction of a section of pipeline between the Corrib gas field and a gas terminal in Co Mayo.
The judge said he would read the legal documents tonight and would give his decision today.
If leave to bring the actions is granted, the applicants are seeking an order preventing commencement of works on the pipeline pending the outcome of the cases. Mr Justice Michael Peart will rule on the leave application today.
An Taisce has brought its own set of judicial review proceedings while the second action is by Monica Muller and Peter Sweetman, Rossport South, Ballina, Co Mayo, who own land 500 metres south of the proposed pipeline.
In both cases, it is contended that the board’s approval of permission breached EU directives relating to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. It is claimed the pipeline traverses several areas of special conservation interest in Co Mayo governed by the EU habitats directives.
In judicial review proceedings against the board, Ireland, the Attorney General and the Minister for the Environment, the applicants want to overturn the board’s decision of January 11th to grant planning permission to Shell EP Ireland to construct 8.3km of pipeline between the Corrib gas field and the gas terminal at Bellanaboy, Co Mayo.
Shell EP Ireland is a notice party to the proposed actions.
The applications for leave to bring the proceedings was made yesterday at the High Court to Mr Justice Michael Peart on an ex parte – one side only – basis.