Shell's billions give lie to CorrIb claims

Shell announced their annual profits this week and Sinn Féin activists joined the protest at the company’s headquarters on Dublin’s Leeson Street.

The protesters drew attention to just how much Shell are making by asking passers-by to calculate how long it would take for them to earn what Shell made last year.

Shell’s profits don’t include the amount of oil and gas reserves they have, or the huge amount of equipment and buildings that they own. The profit figure is money that they have after they have paid all the bills (although not the security costs at Bellanaboy – the taxpayer pays that), and everyone’s salary. This amount is pure profit for their shareholders.

This year’s figure – €19,629,600,000 – is deceptive because it hides the fact that the dollar is weak at the moment and energy has to be traded in dollars. Profits are way up this year. The company has never had it so good.

Yet Shell say they need to place the refinery for the Corrib gas onshore to save money, and the government says it wouldn’t make economic sense to force them to share some of the profit sthey’ll get from the oil and gas they find off the west coast. Local people’s concerns about health and safety are ignored and journalists weren’t even allowed into the Shell HQ in Dublin last week to discuss the issue.

Activists from around the country will be travelling to the support demonstration on 16 February.

• For details of how to get to the demonstration at Bellanaboy on 16 February contact your local Sinn Féin Cuige or call Shell-to-Sea on 087 618 1620.