Labour Youth calls for Nationalisation of Corrib Gas

by In Support Fri Feb 23, 2007 15:07

Delighted to see Labour Youth identify itself publicly on the issue of the Corrib Gas Project. This is a third time for me.

There is need for many more groups to do likewise. It provides the ordinary people opportunities to choose which umbrella they feel most comfortable under on this issue. Many people discriminate on the banner they wish to come under - the more banners the more people. The more concern for the issue and for a variety of group-owned strategies to happen based on in-group consensus.

Have noted Catlebar Friends of Shell to Sea among submissions to EPA as indeed Friends of Rossport Ltd. Great spread may happen.

by Paul Fri Feb 23, 2007 19:39

Who gave away the resources in the first place? Wasn't it Labour in government with FF? Yes it was. Fair play to you LY, but you are in a party that will vote through rotten measures "in the national interest". Even your latest edition of Left Tribune says "Labour in government will....." Not exactly anti-coalition?

by Jim Wed Feb 28, 2007 00:28

If the Corrib gas field and associated prospects are worth €51 billion as claimed by the S2S people, will Ireland have to hand over that amount in order to nationalise the field. Or will Labour simply expropriate it without compensation. Please provide some details about how this will be done constitutionally?

by Wonk Wed Feb 28, 2007 13:39

The way the Russians did it (as I understand it) was to point out to Shell that the contract included clauses about the safety and environmental impact of the way the gas in the Sakhalin 2 project was to be exploited, and that the company had failed to live up to their responsibilities with regard to these.

Therefore the whole contract needed to be renegotiated.

Shell kicked up about it, but realising that you can't take on a sovereign govt with the will to stop you ripping them off, they soon agreed to the new terms.

I can't see Labour (grown up wing) taking on Shell, and I certainly can't see them getting Fine Gael to help them. However, a govt that needs Sinn Fein support would need to look at both the Corrib deal and the way new licences are awarded. It's one of the reasons that elements within FF are uncomfortable with that thought.

The Greens voted at their recent conference to that their party in government would not sign a pipeline consent for the Corrib gas scheme until a full, independent review has been conducted into the project.

by p m sligo - labour Wed Feb 28, 2007 19:44

Apart from d bree no one in labour in sligo wants to here about shell to sea The gen elec cand j mc garry runs a mile if you bring up the subject Is there a labour youth officer in sligo

by Reality Check Wed Feb 28, 2007 22:10

Spare us the local politicking, this issue is far too big and far too important for it to be used as a platform to score a couple of cheap shots at McGarry.

But it is ironic that LY is calling for the nationalisation of a project Labour (proper) was part of setting up.

A disgraceful and disgusting waste of what could be a national beneficial indigenous industry.

by LP Member - DSC constituency Fri Mar 02, 2007 18:42

While I agree with your anti-politicking remark, I think your asertion that Labour where involved with brokering the deal initially is a little on the sweeping side.

Labour weren't in Government when the deal with Shell was ratified to the extent it is now. The exploration incentives where agreed under FG/Labour. Post discovery was circumspect.

by w smith sts sligo Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:17

I think it is very important for the G El Cand for labour in sligo gaves he's views on the pipeline issue in Mayo and labour youth in sligo, what are their view It,s a lot of young people first time to vote and they want to hear what the canditates have to say

by Dub Sat Mar 03, 2007 20:27

While I accept the genuine opposition that a small minority in Labour have to the Gas sell-off, it has to be said that Labour were in government when this sell-off happened. Billions of Euro was given over to multi-national firms by Labour/FG and Labour/FF. To say it was not "to this extent" is absolutely disgraceful. So is a small sell-off of resources OK? Maybe selling something like Dublin Bus or Aer Lingus is OK, but a massive gas field is not as you thought it may be smaller! Throughout the 1990s Labour presided over a cut-backs and sell-offs. Even in the past 10 years in opposition their opposition to privatisations has been lacklusture. Remember how Rabbitte was extremely pissed off when Ahern criticised the management of Aer Lingus! Rabbitte jumped to Willy "Cut Jobs" Walsh. Labour are not left-wing. Just look at the moralist hysteria they are wipping up over Child sex laws which they voted for only last summer. Labour are a disaster.

by lyncher - UNITED EIRE Sat Mar 03, 2007 22:08 p.elynch at hotmail dot com

the goverment cant afford to take back the contract shell have billions and the best legal knowledge the goverment is afraid to take them on plus under the constatution all natural resorces are the people of irelands demand it back with force