The Tara Bypass – what they won’t tell you
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It is a sad day for Ireland when a citizen in a moment of weakness turns their back on matters of heritage protection. Maybe they don’t remember the Nice Treaty we voted on which requires the government to provide a high level of environmental protection. What is happening at Tara? Is it a high level of environmental protection?
If the pinnacle of our National Monuments at Tara can be treated with such disregard, what chance do the other National Monuments in state care have in receiving their rightful high level of protection.
The fundamental principle of heritage protection in accordance with the Nice Treaty is being shot blasted before our very eyes and all some minds can think of is ‘Me in my car’.
Critic of M3 route appointed to Tara committee
Wednesday, 27 June 2007 17:51
The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has appointed Prof Conor Newman from NUI Galway to a special committee to oversee archaelogical work on the controversial National Monument at Lismullen near Tara.Prof Newman, who has in the past has been vocal in his criticism of the routing of the M3 motorway, will be charged with ensuring any work is conducted to the highest, most transparent standards.
Also on the Committee will be Dr Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum, Prof Gabriel Cooney, Head of Archaeology at UCD, as well as representatives from the National Roads Authority and the Department’s National Monument’s Service.
AdvertisementA spokesman said the special committee held its first meeting this morning.
Dick Roche, Mr Gromley’s predecessor, controversially signed an order allowing the motorway to be built on top of the Lismullen site after an archaelogical examination.
Minister Gormley has said the Attorney General’s advice is that he is not in a position to re-examine the decision, however Oppostion parties have charged he is dodging the issue.
Meanwhile, a group of MEP’s are in Ireland to investigate a number of complaints in relation to the environment.
Members of the European Parliament Petitions Committee are looking at complaints made by citizens including the route of the M3, proposals for an incinerator on Dublin Bay and water quality in Galway.
Meeting the Minister for the Environment this afternoon, chairman of the Committee Marcin Libicki said the visit to Tara would be an emotional part of the Committee ‘s programme.
Mr Gormley said the Committee should be as vigorous and as thorough as possible.
From RTE
Gormley interested in party leadership Sunday, 1 July 2007
The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, says he intends to put his name forward to replace Trevor Sargent as leader of the Green Party.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s This Week programme, Mr Gormley said he believed he had the experience to lead the Greens through an important transition, from a party of opposition to a party of Government.
The minister said, if elected, he would do everything in his power to ensure the party membership was ‘kept in the loop’, particularly Green councillors.
On the controversial M3 motorway near Tara, Mr Gormley said he was not attempting to undermine the position of the State’s chief archaeologist, Brian Duffy, by appointing a special committee to oversee work at the Lismullen archaeological site.
He said it was for reasons of openness and transparency that he was going to release internal departmental documentation relating to the Lismullen site near week.
Mr Gormley added he still views incineration as the disposal of waste rather than waste recovery, despite an EU Council decision last week.
@Sloan wrote:
Mr Gormley added he still views incineration as the disposal of waste rather than waste recovery, despite an EU Council decision last week.
Well he’s a tit and a great representative of the ‘Green’ party.
Heritage Protection Alliance of Ireland (HPAI)
Press release 27th June 20070. Acting in a private capacity, Mr. Stephen Devaney B.L. and Dr. Mark
Clinton of the HPAI have lodged a complaint regarding the imminent
destruction of the Prehistoric Temple site at Lismullen, Tara, Co.
Meath with the Environmental Dept. of the European Commission.0. Under EU Directive 85 / 337 / EEC demolition/destruction of a
structure/building of Cultural Significance can represent an integral
part of development requiring EIA. It is our contention that the
Lismullin Temple falls within the remit of this EU Directive (aka
Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] Directive).0. In other words Mr. Dick Roche’s ‘destruction order’, in the absence
of a new EIA, would therefore be null and void.
0. There are a number of questions that might be addressed to Mr. Roche.0. Q. Was he aware of EU Directive 85 / 337 / EEC?
0. Q. Was he aware that its scope indicates that demolition works can
represent an integral part of developments requiring
EIA?
0. Q. Has there been any correspondence on the issue with the EU Commission?
0. Q. If there was- When? Not Recently? Recently? i.e. immediately
prior to the signing of the ‘destruction order’? Or, was there no
correspondence at all on the issue?
0. Q. Would Mr. Roche, as Minister for European Affairs, not feel
obliged to call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government to place a moratorium on any demolition works at
Lismullin pending a legal clarification from the EU Commission?
Q. Would Mr. Roche not accept that if our interpretation of EU
Directive 85/ 337 / EEC is correct then his ‘destruction order’ is
contrary to EU law, and thus effectively null and void?What sort of character creeps around at 4am to carry out destruction?
PRESS RELEASE – CAMPAIGN TO SAVE TARA
BARONSTOWN MONUMENT DESTROYED UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS
The huge archaeological monument of Baronstown, a possible candidate for
a National Monument, was destroyed in the early hours of Wednesday 4th
July when machinery moved onto the site at 4am. When protesters arrived
at 6am the entire site had been completely razed to the ground. This was
an extraordinary site described recently by archaeologist Joe Fenwick as
a “multi-period, archaeological complex” that was much more extensive
than the declared National Monument of Lismullin.According to documents seen by the Campaign to Save Tara Baronstown had
been recommended for National Monument status a number of months ago by
archaeologists on-site, but that this was rejected by the NRA chief
archaeologist and former Minister for Enviroment Dick Roche.
Dr Muireann Nà Bhrolcháin said: “That they are destroying our heritage
under cover of darkness says it all. We demand that the Government calls
a moratorium on all construction work in the Gabhra Valley at least
until the new committee convened by Minister John Gormley has submitted
its deliberations and until the EU Petitions Committee who visited Tara
also submit their report.”Michael Canney said: “We have been urging Minister Gormley to review the
documentation regarding the whole archeological project in the Tara
Valley. If he had taken our advise perhaps another piece of our
irreplaceable national heritage would not have been bulldozed. No
previous administration or directives can be blamed for this latest
disgrace.”In another development, local residents in the Trevet area are convening
a public meeting to raise the issue of construction noise at night as
well as the effect that the work is having on the quality of local
drinking water despite the assurances they received that this would not
happen.
Meanwhile at other sites in the Valley, where construction has been
severely hampered by daily protests the atmosphere is becoming more
tense.Debbie O’Reilly a local protester said: “The chairman of SIAC, Dublin
solicitor Ciaran Feighery was on hand at the construction site today and
witnessed first hand an assault of protesters by construction workers.
Being a man of the law we expect that when he is called upon in court to
testify to this assault he will do so honestly.”http://www.savetara.com
An aerial photo of Baronstown here:
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/muireanntemair/April%20aerial%20
shots/
Also see photographs of previous damage.
Feel free to use the photographs – if using aerial shots please credit
Paula GeraghtyWhat sort of character creeps around at 4am to carry out destruction?
The sort who needs to avoid environmental nutters who prowl around all night “protecting” sites that are “possible candidates” as national monuments even though, er, they have been “rejected” as national monuments by the Department of the Environment.
The early bird caught the worm…
When protesters arrived
at 6amToo late suckers….
another arrogant post by sue after another disgusting attack on Ireland.
how are those shares in NTR doin sue?
Thankfully the motorway is well underway now and there is nothing that can be done about it. Will the eco nazis leave the site now?
you’re asking people who care about the environment to leave a website about architecture and planning? that’s gotta be a first
@alonso wrote:
you’re asking people who care about the environment to leave a website about architecture and planning? that’s gotta be a first
lol! – the M3 site:D
d’oh!!!
i sometimes get confused with my “superhighways” and my “connections speeds” …
it was a good one though.anyway back to the M3. Booooo!!! or to quote sidewinder on politics.ie
“It’s time for direct action methinks. The FF scumbags have absolutely no shred of honour, conscience, basic human decency. Tey are parasites sucking our nation dry. They must be stopped.
Appeals to reason, culture, heritage, the nation simply will not work. All these soul-less evil treacherous men care about is their own pockets.
Attack the building site. Smash the equipment. Batter the scum willing to work on the site. Ostracise them in wider society. If you know someone on your street is working on the M3, tell everyone and have people throw rotten eggs at them every time they leave the house.
Scum, scum, scum, scum. Anyone involved in the M3 basically deserves to be put against a wall, and would be in nearly any other country on Earth. Fight back, relentlessly, without mercy. This cancer needs to be ripped out of Irish society – while there still is such a thing as Irish society!”
http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?p=742070&sid=fe45e8ff1a14e12bfcd3091e12e78b14#742070
now that’s debate!!!
Files Relating to Tara Unsealed Six One News Friday 6th July – Transcript
RTE News Reader: “Files relating to the proposed M3 Motorway published by the minister for the Environment today, reveal that major differences of opinion about the importance of archaeological finds in the area.
However, John Gormley said he intends to designate the Tara Valley as a Landscape Conservation Zone, which will curtail all future development in the area”
Paul Maguire: ” When he was appointed Minister for the Environment three weeks ago John Gormley said he intended to be fully open and transparent on the issue of the M3. The Minister promised to publish all the files relating to the motorway. Today, he released those files to the media. The files reveal disagreements between the Director of the National Museum Pat Wallace and the project archaeologist Brian Duffy, about the importance of a number of the finds along the route.
One disagreement concerned the site at Barrenstown, which Dr. Wallace described as being of national importance. However, despite local opposition that site was filled in, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.”
Michael Canny (Save Tara Campaign): “Is it coincidental that it was destroyed in a few days before it transpires that it was an important site and was recommended as such? I mean, it’s quite sinister really.”
Paul Maguire: “The minister said he is considering using his powers to designate the Tara Valley a Landscape conservation area which means developments normally exempt from planning permission would in future require permission. He also announced a major review of archaeological practice and policy relating to future developments here.
John Gormley: “If a recommendation emerging from that review means changing legislation, then certainly I will do that.”
Paul Maguire: “The minister restated the Attorney General’s [Paul Gallagher SC] advice that he cannot amend his predecessors decision.”
John Gormley: “I can assure you if there is a change in material circumstances I would revisit that decision, and you can be sure that I will always err on the side of preserving our archaeological heritage.”
Paul Maguire: “The review process of archaeological policy being proposed by the minister will get underway in the autumn.”
Museum director ‘perturbed’ about protection of Tara
The basis of Dick Roche’s M3 decision is revealed in a file released yesterday, writes Frank McDonaldNational Museum director Dr Pat Wallace told former minister for the environment Dick Roche that he was “very perturbed about the protection of the ambience of Tara” after the controversial M3 motorway was completed.
In a letter to Mr Roche on May 3rd last, Dr Wallace said the recent discovery of a prehistoric henge at Lismullen, Co Meath, “comes as no surprise to those of us who accepted the thesis that the intended line of the road was indeed bisecting an ancient ritual landscape”.
Mr Wallace was giving his views on draft directions providing for the “preservation by record” of the Lismullen site following a full-scale archaeological excavation, according to a file on the case released yesterday by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
After the site was discovered by archaeologists employed by the National Roads Authority (NRA), it was inspected on April 6th by Dr Wallace and the Department of the Environment’s chief archaeologist, Brian Duffy, who agreed it qualified as a national monument.
A subsequent report by Mary Deevy, the NRA’s project archaeologist for the M3, described Lismullen as a “highly significant . . . prehistoric ritual enclosure” dating from the Late Bronze Age or Iron Age and located “beneath the important ceremonial complex on the Hill of Tara”.
But her report suggested that Lismullen may have been “a ceremonial site serving lesser political units . . . perhaps more directly related to the nearby clifftop fort of Rath Lugh.
“It may alternatively represent a single ceremonial event on a site which was not then used again.”
This was disputed by three experts on Tara – Edel Bhreathnach, Joe Fenwick and Conor Newman – who said the NRA’s unwillingness to admit any link with Tara “is actually quite shameful and undermines utterly one’s confidence in the professionalism of their approach”.
They called on Mr Roche to “recognise that this is a unique landscape which should not be lost forever to generations in the future, that there now should be an admission that a mistake has been made and that a decision should be taken to re-route this section of the M3”.
But Mr Duffy, in his advice to the former minister, said the claim that the landscape around the Hill of Tara would be lost forever if the M3 is constructed “is to say the least excessive” because the landscape that exists now was the result of “numerous millennia of human changes”.
“It has been changed many times to meet the needs of succeeding generations of farmers and travellers,” he said in response to the three academics. “There is no archaeological justification to seek to freeze it now so that it remains in its current visible form.”
“The existence of a cultural/historic/archaeological . . . landscape in the vicinity of the Hill of Tara is not an issue. Indeed, as we live on an island that has been occupied by man for roughly 10,000 years, it can be argued that the whole country is a cultural landscape.”
Referring specifically to Lismullen, which is a circular enclosure of stake-holes with an 80m diameter, he said: “All of us accepted that the M3 route would impact on previously unknown archaeological monuments, including possibly one or more of national significance.”
Dr Wallace congratulated Mr Roche on declaring the henge a national monument, saying “its scale and comparative rarity as a type make it a compelling case”, and argued that the nearby Baronstown site, which was destroyed last Tuesday night, should also be designated.
Calling for a “total excavation” of Lismullen to the highest archaeological standards, he criticised the NRA’s use of machinery to excavate topsoil as “drastic”.
Dr Wallace suggested that a glass wall should be erected on the M3 to reduce noise and to “cut out unsightly developments along this stretch of road”. He again expressed concern that lighting at the Blundelstown interchange “will seriously undermine the sanctity of our most sacred place”.
Finian Matthews, principal officer in the National Monuments Service, said it was “not clear how a glass wall . . . would reduce noise except in the immediate vicinity of the road”. The most effective way of controlling development would be through “strong” planning policies.
He also advised Mr Roche that full archaeological excavation and recording of the Lismullen site “would not only provide the maximum archaeological information and heritage gain but also enables the construction of the M3 as approved by An Bord Pleanála [ in 2003]”.
It would be difficult to alter the motorway route to preserve the henge in situ without realigning it over a number of kilometres. And if it was decided to opt for an alternative route running west of the Hill of Tara “there would still be major archaeological concerns to be addressed”.
Changing the motorway alignment would also take “some years” because a new Environmental Impact Statement would be needed as well as further land acquisition and planning approval from An Bord Pleanála. The costs of all of this were also “uncertain”, he added.
Sat July 7, 2007 Page 7
The Irish TimesGormley to review State’s heritage sites policy
Frank McDonald, Environment Editor
Minister for the Environment John Gormley is to carry out a complete review of the State’s archaeological policy and practice and may propose amending or even repealing the 2004 National Monuments Act.
This Act, introduced by Martin Cullen, invested the Minister with sole discretion to decide the fate of any national monument that might be in the path of a motorway. It was specifically designed to facilitate earlier delivery of the Government’s roads programme.
Yesterday, after releasing a file showing how his predecessor Dick Roche made his decision to permit the “preservation by record” of a prehistoric henge at Lismullen, Co Meath, Mr Gormley said he was already consulting archaeologists on what should be changed.
“I want to be as open as possible, to find the best way of going forward”, he said.
Asked if he would consider amending or repealing the 2004 Act, he said: “If changing legislation emerges from this process, I will look at that.” However, he appeared to accept the route of the M3 past the Hill of Tara as a fait accompli.
“That goes back a long time before I came in here,” he said. “I can’t go back and revise all those decisions. That’s it. All I can do is look to the future and see where we go from here.”
He said he had been talking to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey about the need to minimise the visual impact of the motorway on Tara.
“I said very clearly that on this particular stretch I don’t want to see the sort of development you might get, like service stations.”
Acting on advice given to Mr Roche by the Heritage Council, Mr Gormley said he was looking at the possibility of having it designated as a Landscape Conservation Area under the 2000 Planning Act.
However, this would only restrict developments that would otherwise be exempt. He repeated an earlier statement that he could not “revisit” Mr Roche’s decision on Lismullen, which was made on the same day as he took office three weeks ago. “The Attorney General’s advice was that I couldn’t do that unless there was a material change in circumstances.”
Asked what this might be, the Minister replied: “If they found something new in excavating the area, and it would have to be a significant find, the legal advice is that I could then revisit it. If there was another national monument discovered, I would have to look at that.
“We’re talking about one road, but there’s going to be many, many more roads built in this country,” he said.
“I’m not an expert on archaeology but I want to talk to all relevant stakeholders on how best to go forward and archaeologists know I’m genuine about this.”
Dr Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum, who flanked Mr Gormley at the briefing, said the “kernel of this difficulty” regarding the M3 was that the selected route was one that had been rejected by archaeologists because of the impact it would have on Tara.
“I regard the whole place as a national monument,” he said, adding that his views on the M3 were well known. “My job is to give advice and I have to live with whatever the decision is.” If the motorway went ahead, it would have to be “sheathed, shaded and screened”.
The Campaign to Save Tara said the file on Lismullen released yesterday showed that another site at Baronstown, “destroyed under cover of darkness during the early hours of Tuesday morning”, was considered to be a national monument by Dr Wallace.
“We call on Mr Gormley to review and make public all documentation relating to all archaeology in the valley,” said Dr Muireann Nà Bhrolcháin. “These documents should be assessed from a heritage standpoint and not in relation to infrastructural development.”
7 July 2007
The Irish Times
EU challenges €184bn NDP
08 July 2007 By John Burke and Pat Leahy The Sunday Business Post
The government and the European Commission are on a collision course over the €184 billion National Development Plan (NDP), following a formal warning from the EU that the entire project is in breach of European law.The Sunday Business Post has learned that EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas sent a letter in the past few days to the government, saying that the commission believed Ireland’s failure to conduct a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for the project was in breach of a key 2001 EU directive.
Should the commission be successful in its action, aspects of the NDP would have to be halted and undergo a mandatory consultation process with stakeholders and the public, during which it faces major amendment.
The Department of the Environment confirmed that it had received the letter from the commission. It said that it had passed the matter to the Department of Finance.
A spokesman for the Department of Finance said that the government was ‘‘taking a very firm view that it was not in breach of any directive’’.
Legal advice had been obtained prior to the drafting and publication of the National Development Plan, he said, which strongly advised that no SEA was required. ‘‘The NDP is a budgetary framework document, and doesn’t require an SEA. That remains our firm position.â€
However, it is understood that there is unease among some in government about the possible implications of the commission’s action.
The government has been given until next month to reply to the formal warning, after which the EU commissioner can issue a further warning before bringing Ireland to the European Court of Justice to compel compliance.
A spokesman for EU environment commissioner Dimas confirmed that the government had received a formal warning recently, but declined to comment further.
The current phase oft he NDP provides €54.6 billion for investment in economic infrastructure; €49.6 billion for social inclusion measures, such as increased disability spending; €33.6 billion for social infrastructure, including justice; €25.8 billion for schools and higher education, and €20 billion for enterprise, science and innovation.
The commission has also raised concerns over the destruction of an archaeological find at Lismullin in Meath, sanctioned by former minister Dick Roche, connected to the M3 Tara motorway.
M3 work ‘illegal’, says Sinnott
Thursday, 12 July 2007 11:55
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott has said work on the M3 motorway in Co Meath is illegal and should be suspended.Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland, she said she had approached the European Commission about the motorway.
Ms Sinnott said she was told that under European law, this project needed an Environment Impact Assessment. She said such an assessment was carried out in 2003 on the basis then that there was no national monument in the path of the road.
AdvertisementShe said the European Commission ‘tagged on’ Lismullen this year, and that its demolition required an assessment.
Also on the programme, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said he was taking a legal warning from the Commission about the M3 very seriously.
He said he would travel to Brussels tomorrow where he will discuss the matter. He said, however, that he did not have the power to re-route the entire M3, although he can deal with certain issues.
Mr Gormley said he had appointed a committee to conduct an archaeological review and released the Lismullen file.
He said he had written advice from the Attorney General that unless there was a material change of circumstances, he could not revise Dick Roche’s decision.
Gormley asks EU how State could avoid infringement proceedings by Ronan McGreevy
[Extract]
[Minister for the Environment ]Mr Gormley said he had assured the European Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas of his intention to solve the difficulties relating to Ireland’s non-compliance with EU directives………….…….The pair also discussed the controversial decision to go ahead with the M3 motorway through Lismullin in Co Meath. The EU Commission has taken infringement proceedings against the Government in relation to the decision to preserve by record the ancient site at Lismullin. It wants the Government to amend the2004 National Monuments Act to include environmental impact assessments (EIAs) whenever a site of potential archaeological worth is discovered along the route. At present EIAs are only carried out before projects are begun.
Mr Gormley said: “The issues associated with Ireland’s implementation of the EIA directive are complex and have been ongoing for a number of years and Lismullin has recently been cited in the additional opinion. This matter requires full and detailed consideration and we will be responding to the commission as quickly as possible.”………..Saturday, July 14, 2007
© 2007 The Irish Times
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