Erris, County Mayo, is a long way from Dublin. But events there have huge economic significance for the country as a whole, including the capital city.

Gas is finally flowing through the controversial pipeline in Erris, bringing raw gas ashore from the Corrib field for refining. Shell, the project leader, is bragging about its success. At peak production, it is expected that the field will produce the equivalent of 45,000 barrels of oil per day.

But already local people are alarmed by intense levels of gas flaring – burning off flammable gas and potentially producing dangerous emissions – on New Year’s Eve, confirming many residents in their long held doubts about the safety of the project.

The various issues around the project include not just health and safety, but also environmental protection, human rights abuses, and the integrity of the planning process. All are important and have been well documented elsewhere.

But, from the point of view of the country as a whole, isn’t the fact that exchequer returns, energy security and jobs are all being boosted an overwhelming economic positive?

Well, it might be – if all those things were actually going to happen. A booklet – Liquid Assets – published by the campaign group Shell to Sea in 2012 meticulously documents how limited are the gains Ireland as a whole will accrue from the project and from any future oil or gas discoveries.