Released campaigners at Navan Court
Press Release. Campaign to Save Tara,
25th. July 2007, 15:49.

All campaigners released on bail
- to appear in September

Campaign calls for complete halt
to works pending EU Directions
The Campaign to Save Tara today repeated its call for all work to be halted on the proposed M3 Motorway through the Tara/Skryne Valley and vowed to continue its campaign.

The seven environmental and heritage activists arrested last week appeared in Navan District Court this morning and were released on bail to appear again on September 5th.

The Save Tara grouping today reiterated that it's Campaign of disruption and delay will continue until the road is re-routed out of the Tara landscape.

Last week , in correspondence with Minister Gormley, the EU indicated that continuing works on the M3 were illegal under EU law governing the need for Environmental Impact Assessments.

The EU argues that under law the discovery of the Lismullin National monument constitutes a "material alteration" from the circumstances of the initial EIA.

The Campaign is calling on Ministers Gormley and Dempsey to respect European Law and to cease all work within the Valley until the European Court of Justice has ruled on this issue.

Michael Canney, spokesperson for the Campaign said today; "The removal or altering of a National Monument not previously subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment is illegal under European Law, and indeed the whole route selection process is flawed - you cannot pretend that the potential impacts were adequately assessed in this case because the National Monument was not discovered at the time of the 2003 Environmental Impact Assessment. In fact, all the discoveries along the proposed route indicate that the Tara landscape is an integrated complex and constitutes a National Monument in its own right".

"The Irish Government, like any member state, must respect EU law. After all, what is the point of the EU's existence at all if individual states simply cherry pick directives to suit their own convenience? These directives are designed for the common good and aren't issued lightly. The Government chose to run a motorway through a complex of archaeological sites, against all professional, impartial advice. They are now choosing to disregard and flout EU regulations and directives. All of this has brought shame and disgrace on the Irish nation. Democracy - never mind heritage - is diminished by this whole affair and the wishes of both the Irish people and the dictates of the EU have been disregarded. This is another wake up call for the Irish Government", Mr. Canney added.

ENDS

Media queries:
Michael Canney
E-Mail: info@savetara.com
Web site: http://www.savetara.com