TARA - latest from the campaign to save Tara

Videos

Tara: Voices from Our Past ~ a recent discovery

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sourced by Maireid Sullivan

Photos

Tara: Open letter sent to John Gormley by Kathy Sinnott MEP

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uploaded by Maireid Sullivan

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  uploaded by Maireid Sullivan | add comment

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  uploaded by Maireid Sullivan | add comment

Here are two important updates on the efforts to save the Hill of Tara.

1/ From Dr. Muireann Ní Bhrolchain: A must read article here from Maggie Ronayne, UCG. The interview with Jo Ronayne is explosive. See p. 121 of the article, p 8 of the PDF.
Jo says: "I should have said no when asked to direct on it but I didn't have the experience to realize that the testing and my reports, would be used to facilitate rather than stop the project going ahead. Or that they don't let you write the truth in the reports or give you enough time to do a proper job". And "They edited our reports before the minister saw them".

The WAC (World Heritage Congress) is being held in UCD (Uni. College Dublin) this weekend, starting Sunday 29th June.
On 3rd July the congress is to hold a debate on the case of Tara and the M3. This document (the PDF) will be circulated to all the hundreds of members.
Also, see the photographs taken on Sunday by a brave, courageous campaigner.
Press has been alerted.

2/ Member of European Parliament for South Ireland, Kathy Sinnott has sent the following message, re. her question to and answer from the European Commission re. placing a moratorium on the construction of the M3 double-tolled freeway through Ireland's most important heritage area, surrounding the Hill of Tara.

So many had hoped the Irish government would change their minds and SAVE TARA, rather than allow the developers to move in.
Please view the short video to the left to learn about the Hill of Tara.

Read more about the campaign to save Tara here.

Learn about the inspired alternative to the M3 route Meath Master Plan on this link:

And, another NowPublic article here.

MESSAGE FROM KATHY SINNOTT, MEP (Member of European Parliament) for Ireland South

Dear All,
Please find attached/below a question I put to the European Commission, and their response.
Thank-you,
Kathy
 
Office of Kathy Sinnott, MEP for Ireland South
Tel. Brussels +32 (0) 228 45692
Email: kathy.sinnott@europarl.europa.eu
www.kathysinnott.ie
 __________________________________________________

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1990/08
by Kathy Sinnott (IND/DEM)
to the Commission
Subject:  Proposed M3 road blockage

Thank you for the response (to my question E-0845/08) given by Mrs Huebner, however we regret to communicate to the Commission that it has been misinformed about a block of the proposed M3 motorway in Ireland.

Photographic evidence can be found to show that work has continued with Garda surveillance on 18 March and is still ongoing.

We welcome the Commission's decision to launch proceedings in the European Court of Justice, however we feel that an injunction is still necessary, which despite what the Commission has been told has not occurred.

With an injunction, other alternatives to the M3 could also be reviewed, which would be of benefit to the Irish citizens as much as the motorway.

We would call on a representative of the Commission to come to the Tara-Skryne Valley and view for itself the current construction work which is affecting the esker on which the protected national monument stands. The National Roads Council appears to be misleading about the information they give out on the construction work currently taking place.

There has been no objection to commencing with construction on the Dublin side of the M3, so can the Commission propose this alternative to the Irish Government if an injunction cannot be enforced?
______________________________________________

E-1990/08EN

Answer given by Mr Dimas
on behalf of the Commission (5.6.2008)

Decisions on the routes of particular road projects are a matter for national authorities. The possible role of the Commission is limited to ensuring that the procedural and substantive requirements of EC law are respected.

There is an ongoing legal dispute between the Commission and Ireland in relation to the Irish legislation governing the removal of a national monument along the route of the M3 motorway and in relation to Ireland's interpretation of Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment[1]. The Commission has decided to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice. The Commission does not consider that this dispute gives it a legal basis to propose to the Irish authorities alternatives to the present road project.

[1]     OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
Subject: REPONSE A LA QUESTION/ANSWER TO QUESTION NO/E-1990/08
From: Réponses QE <ReponsesQE@europarl.europa.eu>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 17:03:05 +0200
To: "SINNOTT Kathy" <kathy.sinnott@europarl.europa.eu>
CC: Réponses QE <ReponsesQE@europarl.europa.eu>