4th March 2002

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Wood Supports Residents Right to Object to Gas Terminal

Sinn Fein Mayo election candidate Vincent Wood has said that the smear tactics being used by `experts' who gave evidence on behalf of Enterprise Oil during last weeks oral hearing on the proposed gas-cleaning terminal in Ballinaboy, were a disgrace. Vincent Wood was speaking after attending a session of the oral hearing in Ballina.

``It is the absolute right of any citizen or community to object or protest against a measure which they feel effects them adversely. Many of the community around Ballinaboy and indeed wider afield in Erris have been registering their legitimate concerns about the siting of the gas-cleaning terminal both at this oral hearing and before.

``The tactics employed by the representatives of multinational business to discredit individual members of the Ballinaboy and Rossport community are nothing less than outrageous and reinforce the view that the feelings of the people of Mayo are of no importance to the promoters of this terminal at this particular location.

``Sinn Fein want to see Gas made available to as many people as possible. We have been and will continue to promote the concept of an all-Ireland gas ring main. We do not believe that browbeating and bullying local communities is the way to deliver this goal.

``The negotiation through to the delivery of the Corrib gas find has been conducted in a ham-fisted manner, which has at all times suited the multinational interests involved at the expense of both the Irish exchequer and the people of Mayo.''ENDS

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