Labour candidate has 'moved on' from Shell protest

by Matt Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:40

Why do the three main Dail parties support the Rossport project? Firstly, they support capitalist development. Secondly they know that natural gas will become a substantial segment of Irish energy in future years, as peat energy is largely phased out. Thirdly they think that the cost of imported oil will rise rather than fall due to supply factors and uncertainties about middle eastern geopolitics.

The Irish general public sees natural gas as the convenient household heating of the future.

What does the Irish general public not fully realize at present? Firstly that Shell was granted the license to prospect and sell the gas for a mess of pottage. Secondly that there are safety, environmental and security difficulties attaching to the method of extracting the gas and transferring it to the Mayo shoreline.

Does the general public see the Shell 2 Sea campaigners as luddite anti-industrialists? Does the general public, especially in big towns and cities, consider that whatever inconveniences the scattered population of North Mayo may experience are far outweighed by the domestic convenience to be derived from natural gas by a million or more householders elsewhere?

I pose these questions because I see a great gap in outlook between the dedicated Shell 2 Sea campaigners and the voting public which will cast more than 80% of its first preferences for the parties that support the Shell energy project.

by half asleep Mon Apr 19, 2010 23:21

Not much support coming from Labour/The Workers Party is there?

by Wide Awake Mon Apr 19, 2010 21:59

I have not read such a petty point scoring post in a long time.So the Workers Party wanted to give away our natural resources,do you realise how stupid and ill informed this makes you appear.You only damage what you claim to support ,then again maby thats your intention.

by EM Mon Apr 19, 2010 09:22

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0419/1....html

"The medical doctor, who campaigned on the Rossport gas pipeline, had told delegates that while he would help if there were safety issues for local residents it was time to “move on”. "

IF there were safety issues? IF?

by GoDot Sun Apr 18, 2010 21:00

I suppose the fact that Cowley couldn't get elected as an independent in 2007 has nothing to do with his decision to join Labour.

As a politician who has no problems with u-turns, he should fit in nicely.