Warning over M3 national monument
Tuesday, 8 May 2007 16:15TaraWatch has predicted a High Court challenge will be initiated almost immediately if the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, approves the demolition of a prehistoric site in the path of the M3 motorway.
Mr Roche is currently examining a report from the Director of the National Museum, Dr Pat Wallace, on the newly found enclosure at Lismullen. He is expected to announce a decision on the matter this week.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said today that he would prefer if all sides in the row would participate in mediation to resolve the problem to everyone's satisfaction.
However he said if Minister Roche orders that the new find be preserved by record then there would be a race against the clock to secure a judicial review of that decision.
Mr Salafia said a new submission to the minister from US academic Dr Ronald Hicks had concluded that, to avoid damage to this pre-historic landscape, the route should be shifted.
The environmental group maintains it is not opposed to the road, but wants it moved to protect the Tara site.
