Anger Strike Against National Monuments Bill

meath | environment | press release

Tuesday June 15, 2004 19:47

by Vincent Salafia - Save Tara Skryne Valley Group

vincent at taraskryne dot org

PO Box 30, Tara, Co. Meath

087-132-3365

Kildare Street Gate to Dail Eireann at 11.00 am. Wednesday

Save Tara Skryne Valley Group has called for an 'anger strike' against the National Monuments Bill, announced by Martin Cullen, Minister for Heritage, today, Tuesday 15th June.

Get Cullen!

SAVE TARA SKRYNE VALLEY GROUP

PRESS RELEASE

15.06.04

The protest will take place at the Kildare Street Gate to Dail Eireann at 11.00 am.

Campaigners are calling on members of all Opposition parties to oppose the bill, and to save Ireland's heritage, and force the Government to build roads legally, efficiently and properly.

The Bill is being challenged because:

- It is designed to legalize badly designed roads, not protect national monuments.

- It is against the letter and spirit of the National Monuments Acts (1930-1994) to legislate away legal protections for a particular site, Carrickminmes, because the Government failed to identify the site beforehand, and created the 'emergency' in the first place.

- It was developed without consultation with heritage groups.

- It reduces protections for monuments for the first time in Irish history.

- It is a breach of the European Convention on the Protection of the Arcvhaeological Heritage, 1992, or the Valletta Convention, to which Ireland is a signatory, and which reinforces that national heritage sites are of European significance.

- It is a violation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site legislation, which Ireland has agreed to. A copy is being mailed to UNESCO, and we are awaiting Tara to be placed on the 100 Most Endangered Sites List in July.

- It is violation of EU law, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, which has been included into Irish law, and requires adequate prior investigation, and therefore will come into direct conflict where the European Commission may make a contrary ruling in its current, ongoing investigation into Carrickmines. It may include include campaigners for:

- Carrickmines Castle, which is currently protected by the National Monuments Act, but in the path of the M50.
- Waterford's Viking remains, currently protected by the National Monuments Act, but in the path of the Waterford Bypass.
- Clondalkin's, and Ireland's oldest round tower, under threat of development into a pub.
- Trim Castle, Co Meath, Ireland's finest Norman Castle, location for Braveheart, under threat of development by hotel, which Minister Cullen declined to protect.
- and others.

According to Vincent Salafia, an LL.M candidate in Trinity College Dublin Law School, specializing in heritage law:

"Like e-voting, this bill is another arrogant attempt by Minister Cullen to force through an ill-conceived and badly researched piece of legislation. It doesn't even define what a national monument is."

"The is clearing the way for American and European based multinationals to clear away our heritage."

Dr. Muireann Ni Bhrolchain said:

"We are calling on the academic community, and all members of the community at large, who have been far too complacent on this matter, to step up to the place. It is time to draw the line in the sand, before we disgrace ourselves completely, in the eyes of the civilized world.

ENDS

http://www.taraskryne.org