A group of independent TDs have called on the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, to resign over his handling of the Corrib pipeline controversy.
The five deputies, led by Dr Jerry Cowley, have accused the minister of interfering in the mediation process between the oil company, Shell, and the five Rossport men who were jailed arising from their opposition to the pipeline.
Deputy Cowley said the minister had scuppered the process by expanding the mediation to include parties other than the company and the five men from Rossport.
However, speaking in the Dáil, Mr Dempsey defended his handling of the controversy, saying the wider communities should be consulted.
Mr Dempsey said he is satisfied that the Corrib gas pipeline project is still valid.
And he also said that reports of recent large gas finds in the northwest were just reports in a magazine and do no constitute a discovery.
