Heritage
Our heritage and our natural environment are precious assets. Ireland's historical heritage is integral to our national identity and crucial to tourism and recreation; our economy is dependent on the natural environment. Both must be preserved and protected. Heritage and environmental conservation have been cast by the present government as inhibitors of progress, economic growth and development. This is a short-sighted and simplistic view and an inappropriate basis for the conduct of environment and conservation policy.
We will:
- We will strengthen the legal protection afforded to the cultural heritage of the people, including its archaeological, architectural, monumental, industrial, artistic and scientific heritage. We will ensure that newly discovered heritage objects, which shed light on our common heritage and history, would belong to the people. We will also seek to incorporate a commitment to intergenerational justice into legislation concerning environmental sustainability and our shared heritage.
- The duty of care for heritage and conservation out of the Ministry of the Environment, Heritage and Local government, will be transferred to our proposed Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment. Responsibility for conservation of the environment and heritage should not co-exist with responsibility for infrastructure.
- The Labour Party is opposed to the building of a motorway through the Tara-Skryne valley. We accept that the M3 is necessary to relieve commuter congestion and that it should be built in three sections. However, the section through the Tara-Skryne valley should be re-routed to avoid the destruction of our Celtic heritage.
- We are particularly concerned at the possibility of major development being attracted to the area around the motorway, which would contribute further damage to Tara and its environs. Labour in government will work to prevent such development taking place.
- We will incorporate ecosystem services and economic and social benefits into the cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment of infrastructural projects.
- We will enhance environment and heritage education in our schools.
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