Read the issued by the Irish and Netherlands NCPs concluding the specific instance - 30 July 2010
In August 2008 the Irish and Netherlands NCPs received a request for review from Pobal Chill Chomain, a community group in North Mayo, Ireland alleging that Shell Exploration and Production Ireland Limited (SEPIL), Statoil Exploration Ireland Limited, and Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Limited (the consortium) had breached the environment, and general policies provisions of the Guidelines in Ireland. More specifically it was alleged that the operations of the consortium posed a number of risks to the environment and the quality of life of the residents. The request was supported by Action from Ireland (AFRI), an Irish NGO, and its French counterpart Sherpa.
It was decided that the Irish NCP would take the lead in relation to this specific instance due to the location of the gas project, however the Dutch NCP co-operated closely with the Irish NCP, as Shell’s parent company is based in The Netherlands.
After discusions, it was ascertained that the key issue for the Polba Chill Chomain and NGOs was the location of the gas processing plant, however the NCP concluded from their discussions with parties, and from studying all relevant documentation, that on this point the parties were irreconcilable. The NCPs regrettably concluded that a mediatory attempt on the basis of this main demand would not yield any results and concluded the specific instance, issuing a joint public statement with a series of recommendations for the consortium.