Shell Ireland has been given permission to begin work on a 75km offshore pipeline as part of its plan to develop the Corrib gasfield.
The decision by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, has been welcomed by the company.
But opponents of the project say they are disappointed that permission for the pipeline was granted before an independent safety review is completed.
Last week, Shell acknowledged that a technical breach may have occurred on the controversial Corrib pipeline.
Meanwhile, a gas technical consultant has claimed that landowners opposed to the laying of the gas pipeline through their lands have no reason to be fearful.
Liam Ó hAlmhain, chairman of the state sponsored Gas Technical Standards Committee, said that he sees no problems with the proposed development.
He said that as far as he was aware, any environmental concerns raised had been dealt with.
Five landowners remain in jail for refusing to purge their contempt of a High Court order in connection with their protest against the pipeline construction.
