Eire/Ireland - M3 - The battle goes on

The Celtic League have been maintaining their opposition to the cultural
vandalism being wrought in the Tara Skren Valley. Latest exchanges
of correspondence between the General Secretary and Environment Minister
John Gormley set out below:

"John Gormey
Environment, Heritage and Local Government

28th April 2008

A Chara

Thank you for your letter in relation to the routing of the M3.

For the record my Party consistently opposed the routing of the M3
through the Tara Skren Valley. An Bord Pleanala's decision in relation
to the road was taken in 2003 and directions were subsequently issued
by my predecessor, Mr Dick Roche, TD, the then Minister for the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government. I have received both advice from the
Attorney General and independent legal advice stating very clearly
that I cannot overturn the directions given by my predecessor. I do
believe, however, that there are a number of things that can be done
to mitigate the effects of the road proposal.

1) I have top ensure that the archaeological sites are excavated
to the highest international standard. When taking office, I ensured
that people who were opposed to this road proposal were part of a
committee to oversee the excavation of Lismullen. The Committee unanimously
came to the view that the site could not be preserved in situ.

2) I also announced at this time that there would be a full archaeological
review with the intention of strengthening our laws for the protection
of our archaeological heritage. The review began recently and I hope
to conclude it before the summer.

3) I also announced my intention to ensure that there would be
a landscape conservation for this area to ensure that there would
be no unnecessary development.

4) I have also placed a permanent preservation order on Rath
Luagh. In addition to this, I commissioned an independent engineers
report in order to safeguard the Rath Luagh site, which has been presented
to the National Roads Authority.

I have been informed that there are further road proposals which offer
a greater threat to our archaeological heritage than those posed by
the M3. It is my intention to ensure that archaeological heritage
is properly protected. If you have any further queries, please do
not hesitate to contact me at this address.

Mise le meas

John Gormey, TD
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government"


"Minister Gormley
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,
Custom House,
Dublin 1.

minister@environ.ie

21.04.08

RE: REP2212/DR/07


Dear Minister John Gormley

M3 Motorway and UNESCO status

The Celtic League was encouraged to hear your comments recently that
you didn't believe that the planned M3 motorway would prevent the
Hill of Tara from being nominated as a United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site.
However, as you will be aware, if UNESCO status of the Hill of Tara
site is granted UNESCO standards of preservation in those areas must
be applied.

We would appreciate it therefore if you could explain to us what initiatives
your Department will undertake to ensure the preservation of the Gabhra
Valley between the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Skryne, if the M3
is to be built along the planned route.

Further to this, the League is still awaiting a reply to our last
letter to you in July 2007 (reference from previous correspondence
quoted above), especially our request for a copy of your Department's
reply to the European Commission, who you met with earlier in 2007,
regarding the construction of the planned motorway. I have also attached
this previous correspondence in case it has been mislaid.

Many thanks in advance.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot
General Secretary
Celtic League"

Related articles on Celtic News at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2437
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2286
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2240
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2239
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2221

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

22/05/08


The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

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