LEGAL ACTIONS BROUGHT BY AN TAISCE AND OTHERS, OVER THE MANNER IN WHICH CONSENTS WERE GRANTED FOR THE CORRIB GAS PROJECT, HAVE BEEN SETTLED AND WITHDRAWN AT THE HIGH COURT AFTER AN 11 DAY-HEARING.

THE COSTS OF THE ACTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED €1 MILLION.

THE SETTLEMENT INCLUDES AN AGREEMENT BY THE STATE TO PROPERLY TRANSPOSE ASPECTS OF THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DIRECTIVE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

IN A STATEMENT AFTERWARD, AN TAISCE SAID THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CORRIB GAS PROJECT WAS CONSENTED TO AND CONSTRUCTED WAS “A TRAVESTY” OF EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.

THE STATE MAINTAINED ITS CLAIMS THAT THE CONSENTS GIVEN WERE VALID, BUT SAID IT WOULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO AN TAISCE’S LEGAL COSTS.

MR JUSTICE PETER CHARLETON WAS TOLD YESTERDAY THE ACTIONS BY AN TAISCE, AND A SEPARATE ACTION BY LOCAL RESIDENTS PETER SWEETMAN AND MONICA MULLER, WERE BEING WITHDRAWN.

PETER SWEETMAN AND MONICA MULLER OF ROSSPORT SOUTH, BALLINA OWN LAND 500 METRES SOUTH OF THE PROPOSED PIPELINE.

THEY AND AN TAISCE CHALLENGED AN BORD PLEANÁLA’S DECISION LAST JANUARY GRANTING PERMISSION TO SHELL EP IRELAND FOR ITS THIRD PROPOSED ROUTE FOR THE PIPELINE.

NO DETAILS OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SWEETMAN/MULLER CASE WERE DISCLOSED.

THE SAME PARTIES ALSO CHALLENGED CONSENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECTIONS OF THE PIPELINE ISSUED BY FORMER MINISTER FOR ENERGY PAT CAREY AND MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PHIL HOGAN. AN TAISCE ALSO CHALLENGED THE GRANTING OF A FORESHORE LICENCE BY MR HOGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AN TAISCE SAID THAT, RATHER THAN PURSUE THE CASES IN COURT, THE STATE HAD PROPOSED A SETTLEMENT, INCLUDING A COMMITMENT FROM GOVERNMENT TO COMPLETE OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE TRANSPOSITION AND TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH AN TAISCE TO ADDRESS COMPLIANCE WITH EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.