Constructive dialogue between representatives of those jailed and the company in the row over the Shell Corrib gasline was called for by Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey.
He said both sides must be able to approach the difficulties with an open mind. "I am aware that efforts are being made by the company, the Council of the West and deputies present in the House to resolve the issues which have arisen."
Mr Dempsey, replying to 11 private notice questions, said that since the onshore pipeline application was submitted to the department in 2002, two independent assessments had been carried out on the quantified risk assessment. The pipeline code was also assessed.
"The consultant who evaluated the onshore pipeline design code indicated that it had been selected in accordance with best public safety considerations. He indicated that, subject to compliance with conditions laid down by the Minister in his approval, the design was generally in accordance with best national and international industry practice."
Mr Dempsey said that the quantified risk assessment had been put into the public domain. One of the assessments of it was already in the public domain while the second would be published in the next few days.
"The overall finding of the quantified risk assessment, that the prediction of risk to the public from the operation of the onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline conforms to international criteria, is supported by the latest report I have received."
He added that the House would appreciate the concern of local residents regarding the operation of the pipeline following commissioning and first gas.
"The comprehensive approval regime put in place by my predecessor envisages conditions in regard to the ongoing operation of the pipeline over the period of its life. I will ensure that an appropriate independent auditing and monitoring regime will be installed prior to any gas passing through the pipeline. This will ensure that best safety practices for the operation of the pipeline will be in place to my satisfaction."
Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) asked Mr Dempsey if he found it extraordinary that the High Court was giving every benefit to a major corporation over the small people of Mayo.
"Is it not incredible that a full hearing of the issues of concern to the people of Mayo will be heard in the autumn, probably in October? In the meantime, the company is allowed to proceed and put everything in place with the like-minded reminder from the High Court that the pipes have to be taken out again if the decision goes against Shell. Is it not incredible that the courts take this view before the Minister has given his consent and before the most recent risk assessment report is put into the public domain?" Several other deputies also urged the Minister to take action on the matter.
Mr Dempsey said it was not going to be of help to anybody, and certainly not in the interests of the five men in jail, to use the issue to get cheap political shots rather than trying to resolve it.
The basic question, he said, was whether Shell had permission to lay the pipeline at this point in time. "It has not got the consent to do that. It has the consent, as deputies have indicated, to mark out proposed routes and so forth, but it does not have the consent to lay the pipeline immediately. It cannot enter the lands to lay the pipeline at present."
