The Labour TD, Eamon Gilmore, has told the Dáil that safeguards included in the National Monuments Amendment Bill are worthless.
Mr Gilmore said that the bill, which contains a provision to allow the Government to sell off national monuments, only gives the National Museum 14 days to investigate and assess the value of any monument or site of potential importance.
The main aim of the bill, which was published by the Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, earlier this week, is to allow for construction work on the M50 at Carrickmines Castle to be completed.
