People Before Profit, which is part of the United Left Alliance, launched its energy and natural resources policy document this morning calling for Ireland’s oil and gas resources to be returned to public ownership. Highlighting the struggle to the people of Rossport, People Before Profit called on the incoming Minister of the Environment to immediately revoke Shell’s license for the Corrib gas pipeline project.
People Before Profit candidates were joined by Pat "The Chief" O’Donnell (pictured above), the Shell to Sea fisherman who was jailed for his opposition to Shell’s refinery and experimental raw gas pipeline in Rossport. ‘The Chief’s’ struggle against Shell was documented in the recent award-winning film, The Pipe.
Speaking at this morning’s press conference Dr. Kieran Allen, UCD Sociologist and one of the document’s researchers commented: “Ireland has astounding wealth in natural resources. It is estimated that at current market rates the total value of Irish oil and gass off the West coast could be as much as €720 billion. This potential wealth provides a means to solve Ireland’s long term economic problems, but it would require a fundamental change in policy.
“Under the current licensing system, Ireland sees little benefit from its own resources. A report sponsored by the Department of Communications, Energy and Resources, pointed out that the ‘current fiscal system…yields among the lowest government take in the world’ The argument put forward by the government that they are insuring our future energy security does not stand up because we will be forced to buy back our fuel at prevailing market prices and compete with others for supply. This is economic maddness.”
Cllr. Gino Kenny People Before Profit and United Left Alliance candidate for Dublin Mid West added:
“It is very appropriate that we are joined here today by Pat ‘The Chief’ O’Donnell who, along with the people of Ross Port, has courageously opposed the sale of our natural resources and the actions of greedy multinationals like Shell who exploit them. We are calling on the incoming Minister of the Environment to immediately revoke Shell’s license for the Corrib gas pipeline project. From the very start of their campaign, Shell to Sea has demanded that the gas be refined at sea but Shell refuse this option, as it would lesson their profits.
“Ultimately Ireland should do what the governments of Bolivia and Venezuela have done and bring into full public ownership all our natural resources. Public ownership of Ireland’s natural resources is the only way of ensuring that the environment is protected and that the health, safety and civil rights of local communities are guaranteed.
Cllr. Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit and United Left Alliance candidate for Dun Laoghaire also commented;
“Serious questions need to be asked about what Fine Gael and Labour intentions are over the development and sale of our natural resources. We are calling on the incoming government to return Ireland’s oil and gas resources to public ownership.
“The great fire sale of our oil and gas reserves off the West Coast is a vision of things to come. The EU/IMF bail out and the state’s financial crisis are being cynically used by to justify stripping this country of its assets and resources. Just this week we have seen how the people of Greece were being instructed by the EU and the IMF to sell off their beaches and lease their national monuments to private corporations.
“Our natural resources are more important than ever, especially given the extent of the economic crisis. Instead of being sold off to the highest bidder they should be invested and developed for the benefit of the people of this country not multinational corporations like Shell who have destroyed communities.”
People Before Profit’s Energy and Natural Resources policy document is available here