Shell to Sea lash Irish Government rejection of UN recommendations on Corrib

Earlier this year, Archbishop Desmond Tutu supported call for an independent inquiry into policing of Corrib

IN a submission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Shell to Sea have criticised the Irish Government for rejecting recommendations made by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights regarding the policing of Corrib protest in County Mayo.

In a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2013, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, called on the Irish Government to “investigate all allegation and reports of intimidation, harassment and surveillance in the context of the Corrib Gas dispute in a prompt and impartial manner”.

Ms Sekaggya's recommendations were echoed earlier this year by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who supported the call for an independent inquiry into the policing of Corrib.

However, earlier this month, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter rejected the recommendation, saying: “I do not see a necessity for an independent inquiry into the policing operation in north County Mayo.”

Other relevant recommendations made by Rapporteur Sekeggya (including  allowing the Garda Ombudsman to do an “examination of the practices, policies and procedures of the police in the context of the Corrib Gas dispute”) have also been ignored by the Irish Government.

Another recommendation highlighted in the Shell to Sea submission was Ms Sekaggya's recommendation calling on Ireland to:

“Enact adequate overarching legislation to protect whistle-blowers in all sectors of activity, ensuring that it complies fully with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.”

Terence Conway of Shell to Sea said:

“Bearing in mind the cosy relationship that Alan Shatter enjoyed with the former Garda Commissioner, his hostile reaction to the Garda whistle-blowers and now his rejection of the recommendation by the UN rapporteur for an independent investigation into the policing of the Corrib Gas dispute, it is clear he is quite happy for corruption and human rights abuses to go unchecked within the Garda.”

The submission is being made to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as part of the follow-up programme to the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Ireland.