EXPLORING FOR GAS AND OIL OFF WEST COASTLINE

The following information was brought to the attention of approximately
70 people who were present at a public meeting in Bantry on Tuesday 18th
Sept, all of whom ( which included The Mayor of Bantry and Town Council
members,) apparently had no awareness at all of the situation, much less
seen it advertised. Two men closely involved with the Sea to Shell
community led campaign who are opposing the building of a gas refinery
and high pressure pipeline in Erris County Mayo, uncovered the
information that exploration work looks now destined for the West Coast
of Ireland in an attempt to find gas and oil.

The men urged that the
West Cork Community pay close attention to this development. Take a look
for yourself at the Shell to Sea website if you want to find out more on
their experience and concerns at Rossport, Co Mayo on www.shelltosea.com
Upon attending the meeting in Bantry on Fri 21st which was held by The
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources under "Public
Consultation" requirements, only six people were in attendance at the
point of my arrival. There was apparently no improvement in attendance
earlier on in the day. Upon being asked if they were satisfied with the
representation from the public they responded "No". When it was pointed
out that it seemed next to no-one knew about the meeting and that people
would have wanted to have been informed they answered that they had
advertised through both local and national papers, and through the Cork
Co. Council and library facilities. Bantry Library stated that they
never get this kind of information passed down. If they had advertised
through papers then a little more money could have gone into paying for
a larger box wouldn't you think? If they truely wanted to inform and
answer questions from the public. But it actually looks more like they
didn't want to draw too much attention, just tick their boxes.
Unfortunately (or not) ripples of suspicion have arisen instead, and
though recommendations were made that another Public Consultation
meeting be set up and this time well publicised, they just shook their
heads, saying that it would be unlikely to happen. Demand an extension
with the deadline of the Submissions so as to give the public the
opportunity to find out more. Like, actually if they find gas these
liquid fuels, will they be sold off or will the population of Ireland
get to benefit from them? Why would we give it away when we will need it?
So, now what? Maybe just wait to see what happens next? Maybe write to
the Dept and to your local councellors asking them to insist upon
another public meeting? Maybe check out the Shell to Sea website and get
an insight as to what that community are dealing with up there. Or start
lobbying politicians for the Nationalising of our Resources.

Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources29-31 Adelaide
Road, Dublin 2, IrelandTel: +353-1-6782000, Fax: +353-1-6782449Website:
http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/

Public Consultation
Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Porcupine Basin Oil & Gas
Exploration Programme

Notice of Public Consultation Workshops
In accordance with EU Directive 2001/42/EC and the European Communities
(Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programme) Regulations 2004
( SI 435 of 2004) the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources is carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on its
programme to invite applications for the award of Frontier Exploration
Licences for certain blocks within the Porcupine Basin in 2007.
Comprehensive information on the SEA process, together with a copy of the
Environmental Report and Technical Annex, will be available on the website:
www.pad.ie from 27 August. The Environmental Report and Technical Annex
will also be available in hard copy and CD form in local libraries in
coastal locations in Counties Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork.

A public consultation is now being carried out as part of the SEA process.
Submissions are invited from members of the public and interested
organisations by 12 noon Friday 5 October 2007. Submissions should be
forwarded to:

Dr. Iain Dixon
ERT (Scotland) Ltd
Research Park South
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To assist the public consultation, public workshops will be held as follows:

Harbour Hotel, New Docks Road, Galway, Wednesday 19th September at
10.00-15.00

Best Western Pery, Glentworth Street, Limerick, Thursday 20th September at
10.00-15.00

Maritime Bay Hotel, The Quay, Bantry, West Cork on Friday 21st September at
10.00-15.00

Members of the public, or of organisations that would like to attend a
workshop may do so by registering with ERT at the contact details above.

Each workshop will comprise a presentation on the consultation process and
on the Environmental Report and Technical Annex, as well as a Question and
Answer session.
Related Information
    * The SEA Process
    * IOSEA 2 - Porcupine Basin
    * Further Information
    * Legislation - Documents - Reports
    * IOSEA 2 Minutes of Steering Group Meetings
    * Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment (IOSEA) 2 Home
    * Other Relevant Authorities
    * Environmental Authorities
    * Steering Group