The publication of a Government tender, today, Monday, February 14th, 2006 for a feasibility study to determine the technical and economic feasibility of a natural gas pipeline to Sligo and Donegal was an extraordinary development in view of a Government announcement in June 2001 that natural gas supply to Sligo was ‘set in stone’.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she accused the Government of bad faith, in turning a ‘commitment’ to provide gas infrastructure to a ‘feasibility study’ five years later.

“This an extraordinary development which, taken in the context of the announcement on the weekend, that a gas field estimated to have nine times the volume of the Corrib field exists under the counties of Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh, raises serious questions about the objective of this tender”, Marian Harkin said.

“It is absolutely astounding to read the promises and commitments made five years ago and contrast this with a decision to commence new evaluations as if a commitment did not already exist”, she said.

Towns in northern Ireland with lower populations than Sligo or Castlebar would be provided with natural gas through a pipeline part funded by Bord Gais, she said.  “This will make them more competitive while towns of the North West have to prove viability”, Marian Harkin said.

Weasel words were, in recent times, being used by the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources to extricate themselves from a cabinet commitment to deliver natural gas service to the North West, the Independent MEP said.  “They have now turned the cabinet ‘commitment’ to a decision ‘in principle’ which contrasts starkly with the Government statement of February 27th, 2001 which read ‘the Government has decided that the gas network will be extended to the North West.  This proposal will extend and improve the energy infrastructure in the North West’ ”

Letterkenny had been promised that it would be connected to gas service through Derry and this was one of the justifications for a Bord Gais Investment of €250 million in Northern Ireland infrastructure, Marian Harkin said.  This promise had evaporated following an evaluation process which deemed the connection to be non-commercial, she said.

Ministers Frank Fahey and Tom Moffat had confirmed the Cabinet decision to provide gas to Sligo and used it as a core political platform plank in the 2002 general election, Deputy Harkin said.  “I call on Minister Fahey, who is still in office, to now repeat his assertion that natural gas will be provided throughout Connacht and Donegal and that this commitment is set in stone’ and not ‘in principle’ which the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources is now suggesting”, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.