THE MINISTER FOR ENERGY PAT CAREY HAS STAUNCHLY DEFENDED HIS DECISION TO SIGN, ON THE DAY OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, KEY CONSENTS FOR THE LAST SECTION OF THE CORRIB GAS PIPELINE.

HE SAID THE DECISION WAS PART OF AN EIGHT-MONTH PROCESS AND TAKEN AFTER VERY COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND LEGAL ADVICE, INCLUDING FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HIS DECISION HAD BEEN CONDEMNED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LABOUR PARTY, SINN FÉIN, THE SOCIALIST PARTY AND UNITED LEFT ALLIANCE. RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO THE PIPELINE IN NORTH MAYO HAVE ALSO CRITICISED THE DECISION.

ASKED ABOUT THE SIGNING ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, THE MINISTER SAID IT WAS “THE ONLY DAY I WAS REASONABLY FREE”.

HE INSISTS IT’S NOT THE END OF THE PROCESS AND THE MEDIA AND OTHER CRITICS SHOULD READ THE LETTER OF CONSENT AND THE CONDITIONS ATTACHED BEFORE CASTING JUDGMENT. HE SAID THE CONDITIONS ARE VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND VERY STRICT.

MR CAREY SAID THE SIGNING WAS JUST ONE MORE STAGE IN A PROCESS AND A JUDICIAL REVIEW WAS EXPECTED AND THAT WOULD DEAL WITH ALL THE ISSUES.

HE SAID THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT POLITICALLY POPULAR TO MAKE SUCH A DECISION DID NOT MAKE IT WRONG.