Challenge Against Irish State Over Corrib Gas Line Withdrawn

Ireland's largest and oldest environmental trust, An Taisce, has announced that it has withdrawn legal action against the Irish state run An Bord Pleanála. The trust, along with other complainants including two residents close to the Corrib offshore gas line, settled the action yesterday in the High Court.

The two residents, Peter Sweetman and Monica Muller, from Rossport, Co. Mayo, and An Taisce had filed separate claims against An Bord Pleanála (meaning "The Planning Board), over a decision to grant Shell E&P planning permission for a third route for the contentious Corrib pipleine. 

The complainants withdrew the actions yesterday, after an 11-day hearing that has been estimated to cost around €1 million.

Speaking for An Taisce, chair Charles Stanley-Smith said that sertlling meant that the state would have to concentrate on their environment obligations.

"By settling this case we achieved with greater certainty the opportunity for tighter protection of Ireland's natural and built heritage, which is at the core of An Taisce's ethos.  An Taisce has always made it clear they are not against the proper development of the Corrib Gas Field. However the issue for An Taisce is that such developments must be carried out in accordance with environmental law."

The settlement also included a statement from the Irish State, saying that it had failed to transpose into law certain aspects of EU law that related to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). However, it said that its conduct otherwise had been correct.

Speaking about the proceedings, Shell Ireland said that "it was always their intention to comply in full with all the conditions applicable to the permissions and consents granted to it."

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/corrib-pipeline-challenge-settled-526018.html#ixzz1c4n2ncat