Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuiv TD today announced a Government initiative to foster economic development in North West Mayo and facilitate a dialogue on local issues relating to the Corrib Gas project. In launching this initiative both Ministers emphasised that the Government is determined to ensure that the Corrib Gas is brought ashore for the benefit of the country and the local community.
The Government will establish a Community Forum for Development in North West Mayo. The Forum will be chaired by Mr. Joe Brosnan.
The Chair will engage with all relevant local community and interest groups. Shell and representatives of the local workforce will also be invited. Local elected representatives, a number of Government Departments, Mayo County Council and representatives from state agencies and the Gardaí Síochána will be present.
The Forum will have a wide mandate and consider, inter alia:
- All aspects of local economic development including infrastructure, energy, tourism (including cultural tourism) and leisure and marine activities
- Local social development
- Promotion of a strong positive image of the area, highlighting its natural advantages
- Environmental issues
In relation to the Corrib project it could discuss
- Compliance with permits/licences
- Safety/technology
- Environmental management
- Policing
- Securing the advantages of gas for the local economy.
Minister Ryan said, “The Corrib Gas project has been a protracted and sometimes painful process for many of the people involved. The Government has a duty to protect the rights of all its citizens. This includes local communities and the developer who is working under statutory consents granted.
The Government also has a duty to act in the best interests of the Irish people. For energy security of supply and economic development, I believe this project is in the national interest. The Forum will work to secure local interests and engage with their concerns.
This Forum will be the first time all of the parties sit down together. With the active engagement of Ministers and a number of Government actors, this represents the best possible way to move forward. I would urge all parties to come to the table and engage with us and each other. The Government is committed to working in the best interests of the people of Erris, Mayo and Ireland”.
Minister Ó Cuiv said, “North West Mayo and Erris in particular have suffered huge emigration and population loss in the past. Its people often had to go to the industrial cities of Britain and America to find employment. The Erris region’s most important assets are its people. Divided, they cannot reach their potential. What we aim to do with the Forum is to seek to create the common ground for the positive development of the area and to mediate differences in a constructive way.
Historically, division in communities on this island has impeded prosperity. By dialogue, respect and agreed processes, with the full backing of Government and under the stewardship of Chairman Joe Brosnan, I believe that this area can reach its full potential. With the establishment of this Forum, there is a historic opportunity to address the challenges of the past and to ensure that all of the natural resources of the Erris region are put to work for the benefit of the people there.”
Chairperson Joe Brosnan said, “The purpose of the Forum is to provide an opportunity for dialogue between people with widely differing views. Chairing the discussions in the Forum will be a big challenge. I will do my very best to be an honest broker for frank, open and constructive dialogue over the months ahead.”
The first Forum will take place in Mayo within one month and will continue on an ongoing basis until such time as the Ministers and Chairperson believe its work is complete.
Note for Editors:
The Forum will include a number of Government Departments and agencies:
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
An Garda Síochána
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Mayo County Council
Chairperson:
Joe Brosnan is a former Secretary General of the Department of Justice who has retired from the civil service. He was Chef de Cabinet from 1993 to 1999 to EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn who had responsibility for Employment and Social Policy. He is also a former Director General of the Institute of European Affairs in Dublin, of which he is currently a Vice-Chairman. He has acted as the independent chairman of a number of Task Forces set up by the Law Society of Ireland in recent years to review various aspects of its regulatory systems and procedures and is a member of the Independent Monitoring Commission for Northern Ireland. He was born in Co Kerry and is qualified as a barrister.