The new Corrib Community Forum, which is due to hold its first meeting this morning (Friday ) under the chairmanship of Mr Joe Brosnan, could be in for a rocky start due to the lack of representation by leading community groups.
Yesterday afternoon Pobal Chill Chomáin confirmed that they would not be participating because they had not received an acknowledgement of their “genuine requests” and no new information had been forthcoming. While Pobal le Chéile were due to meet at 10pm last night (Thursday ), a spokesperson said it was “unlikely that they would be attending”.
The groups, while welcoming the forum when it was announced on November 6 by Ministers Eamon Ryan and Éamon Ó Cuív, wanted to know if the core issues of health, safety, environment, trust and respect for local people would be prioritised over the issue of economic development and compensation; that all issues were on the table for discussion (including design concept, site location, best international practice, etc. ); that all parties, including the developers and the state authorities, would come to the forum in a spirit of openness and compromise; and that the forum would recognise the people of the parish of Kilcommon as key stakeholders whose participation was essential in the decision-making process.
Pobal Chill Chomáin said they had always sought real dialogue to help solve the difficulties with Corrib, and as the receiving community their expectations were raised by both Ministers, “who promised an open forum where health and safety concerns could be directly addressed”. “As it stands, this process does not offer such a dialogue, and may in fact lead to further frustration and greater discord in north Mayo.
“Public statements from Minister Ryan and Shell E&P Ireland Ltd – and reiterated by Minister Ó Cuív – have repeatedly ruled out the central issue of project location, therefore setting down preconditions of involvement. The proposed process is also to be conducted by invitation only and behind closed doors. This combines to strangle any real discussion in a ‘forum’ that is neither open nor focused on the problems, and therefore cannot offer any solutions to the long-running dispute.”
Pobal Chill Chomáin say they remain open to a “genuine process” where all issues are up for discussion in a transparent and inclusive manner, and “regrets yet another missed opportunity by Government to benefit all parties and restore peace to our community”.
