Press Release. Kathy Sinnott MEP,
12th. July 2007.
12th. July 2007.
John Gormley can and must reverse
- the decision on M3 and Tara
- the decision on M3 and Tara
On RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland programme this morning, John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, stated that "unless a material change in circumstances has occurred, I cannot reverse the decision made by (previous Minister for the Environment) Dick Roche" on the M3 Motorway. The Minister said this in response to Kathy Sinnott, MEP who pointed out that the European Commission informed the Minister on June 29th. last that the M3 Motorway project lacks a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) because the discovery of the national monument at Lismullin constitutes a material change to the original EIA. The M3 Motorway project in its present route is now illegal.
"According to the European Commission a material change has occurred in the shape of the monument at Lismullin, which was not taken into account in the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted in 2003. This assessment was on the basis that no national monument lay in the path of the road. The discovery and identification of Lismullin as a national monument this year represents a definite change in circumstance that could not have been taken into account at the time of the 2003 EIA", says Independent MEP for Ireland South Kathy Sinnott".
"In addition, the Commission state that in its opinion the National Monuments Act relied on by Dick Roche and now John Gormley to demolish Lismullin is not in line with the EIA Directive and therefore invalid. This warning is another "material change in circumstances".
On the basis of this material change, Minister John Gormley is now in a position to reverse the former Environment Minister's decision and can suspend works on the M3.
"I call on the Minister to hold true to his words this morning and stop construction of the M3 which is destroying our precious cultural and archaeological heritage in Tara".
-ENDS-
For further information, questions, comments or interview, please contact Kathy on: +353 87 2786 552 (mobile), +32 228 47692 (Brussels office) or +353 21 4888 793 (Cork office)
Related Articles:
EU Commission probes Tara monument demolition.
EC court move to save Tara site may be too late.
European Commission Intervention on M3.
EU Commission Sends Warning on Tara.
Campaign welcomes moratorium call.