Shell has admitted that it may have breached the conditions attached to its development of a gas pipeline in Co Mayo.
As over 1,000 people marched through Dublin today in support of five people jailed for obstructing work on the Corrib onshore pipeline, Shell issued a statement acknowledging "there may have been a technical breach of the consent".
The company "regrets this if it proves to be the case", the statement said.
Shell issued the statement after receiving a letter from the Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey in which he told the company to respond to concerns about the nature of the work being carried out.
The company said today it would respond in full in the coming days after department inspectors visited the pipeline works this week.
"The Company will continue to work closely with the Department to ensure that no possible departures from the terms of the Minister's consent occur in the future," the statement said.
It also said that all work on the onshore pipeline was suspended two weeks ago and would not resume until the independent safety review commissioned by Mr Demspey is completed.
Some residents in the north Mayo area between Bellanaboy and a refinery 9 km away in Rossport believe the pipeline is a safety hazard because the pressure at which the gas is piped is far higher than the industry norm.
They have also complained that work carried out on their lands is not in accordance to the ministerial consent and have obstructed works.
Shell sought the enforcement of a committal order for four residents and a protester last month after they prevented engineers from carrying out work in contravention of a court a High Court injunction obtained by the company.
The five men have been in Mountjoy jail since and today around 1,000 people marched through Dublin expressing support for the men. Some supporters held placards saying the State's natural resources had been sold off cheaply.