UCD Labour Argue for Support for Shell To Sea

Sunday December 09, 2007 14:20

by LY - Labour Youth

Shell to Sea at Labour's conference

The UCD Labour Branch have published videos of the arguement for Shell to Sea made at the Labour Party Conference in Wexford.

The motion put to conference was as follows:

Conference notes:

the involvement of many Labour activists in the Shell to Sea campaign;
the construction of a high pressure pipeline in County Mayo by a consortium consisting of the Shell Statoil and Marathon Corporations;
that the land of local residents had been handed over to Shell by compulsory purchasing orders to procure construction of the pipeline.
Conference also recognises:

that the pipeline is an unprecedented development;
that this is a high pressure pipeline carrying up to 345 bar pressure of gas;
that the gas carried through the pipeline is odourless therefore undetectable in the event of a rupture;
the environmental impact of the pipeline;
that the waste from the refinery, including lead, nickel, magnesium, phosphorus, chromium, arsenic, mercury and the radioactive gas radon will be pumped into Broadhaven;
that many cetaceans (whales and dolphins) are in danger as a result.
Conference further notes:

that governments led by Fianna Fail have given corporations involved in the project up to 100% tax write off;
that it is commonplace throughout Europe for the State to take between 55-79% of the Royalties from oil and gas exploration;
that it is safer to refine gas at sea;
that it is possible for Shell to refine the gas at sea at a relatively low cost.
Conference supports:

the aims of the Shell to Sea campaign.
Conference calls for:

the end to the construction of the high pressure pipeline and the relocation of the consortiums operations to a terminal at sea;
the renegotiation of all Royalties with regard to oil and gas exploration in Ireland, ensuring the State gets a reasonable share of the profits made in the process.

Proposing Branch : UCD/Pat Upton/Ml O'Riordain

The results of the vote were as follows:

Referred back to National Executive (99 in favour, 73 against the referrral back)
This means that a group will be set up to fully develop Labour's stance in relation to the Shell to Sea campaign