Public Opinion and Corrib Gas

mayo | environment | opinion/analysis

Monday October 29, 2007 01:03

by JM

Rossport

How poll questions are framed, and what does it all mean?

The latest Irish Times online Head2Head poll concerned itself with the Corrib gas controversy in North Mayo, and asked the following question:

Is Shell's Corrib Gas project good for the local community?

The result came in as a resounding NO, with 84% believing the project as proposed is bad for the local community, with less than 1 in 6 agreeing it was good for the area.

result of the Irish Times Head2Head poll on the Corrib Gas project

To most people from the area (including those promoting the project) the result should not come as a great surprise. Shell's involvement in the Erris region has caused nothing but strife and conflict for the last few years, and their continued stance on the proposed Bellanaboy refinery is not getting us any nearer to a solution.

Local resistance has grown dramatically since the jailing of the Rossport Five (when the issue got national and international attention) and with protests at Bellanaboy every working day since July 2005 there is no sign of the elusive concept of "community consent" materialising anytime soon.

However, that is exactly what Shell are claiming. The myth of an adoring populace dogged by a few rag-tag diehards is exactly that... a myth. Shell's fantasy of popular support for their chosen design concept is as far removed from reality as you can get, and the Times' poll is only the most recent confirmation of this.

There is a well-known phrase about "lies, damn lies, and statistics" and the arguments surrounding this project are a perfect example of statistical manipulation and outright lies.