A number of legal challenges aimed at quashing consents for the construction of sections of Corrib gas onshore pipeline have been settled.
Two local residents, Peter Sweetman and Monica Muller, Rossport South, Ballina, Co Mayo who own land 500m south of the proposed pipeline and An Taisce, the heritage protection agency, had separately challenged An Bord Pleanala's decision last January granting permission to Shell E&P Ireland for its third proposed route for the pipeline.
They claim the proposed pipeline traverses several areas of special interest in Co Mayo governed by the EU habitats directives.
The same parties also challenged consents for the construction of sections of the pipeline issued by former Minister for energy Pat Carey and Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.
An Taisce also brought proceedings against the granting of a foreshore licence by Minister Hogan earlier this year.
Today at the High Court, on what was the 11th day of the action, Mr Justice Peter Charleton was informed that all the actions were withdrawn.
In a statement to the court, the State acknowledged its failure to properly transpose into Irish law certain aspects of European directive concerning Environmental Impact Assessments. However it stated that all of the consents challenged in the actions were valid.
Shell EP Ireland who were notice party to proceedings said "it was always their intention to comply in full with all the conditions applicable to the permissions and consents granted to it" as part of its construction works.
Afterwards in a statement, An Tasice said the settlement was a victory for all those who "fought so long and so hard for vindication" in relation to the manner in which the pipeline development has proceeded
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