Minister John Gormley To Protect tara
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Sunday August 26, 2007 03:11
by Susan Isabella Sheehan-Repasky - Flicker Light Studio
art at tomandsusan dot us
The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has said he is committed to ensuring there will be no major development along the route of the M3 motorway, close to tara, Co Meath.
The Minister of the Environment, John Gormley has announced today that he will commit himself to not allowing any further road work near the tara Complex. It is of interest that Minister Gormley, who previously stated that his hands were tied, has decided that the protection of this vital and significantly spiritual center of Ireland is essential, especially since it is the National Heritage Week. Following is the release from rte.ie/news:
"The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has said he is committed to ensuring there will be no major development along the route of the M3 motorway, close to tara, Co Meath.
He was speaking at the launch of Heritage Week, which is expected to involve a quarter of a million people in events across the country.
The case of the M3 motorway and tara is a prime example of the clash between development and heritage.
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The Heritage Council wants the Government to designate such zones landscape conservation areas to prevent major development on them.
Mr Gormley said it was his aim to protect Ireland's heritage."
Comments (8 of 8)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Lessening visual impact on the Hill of Tara is afterall what the seven year campaign
to Save the Tara Valley is what it is all about. The related link above and statement
was released at Farmleigh House, a project of the FF administration. It cost millions
and provides a wonderful exemplar for those who would vote for urban sprawl,
unsustainable development, petrol dependency; and a Green party who are carrying out
the anti-environmental policies of the Taoiseach quite seamlessly.
Minister Gormley has failed to back up a single word about Tara with a single action
regarding Ireland's duty of care to out heritage; and many sites are without basic
internationally recognised statutory protections. There have been up to 5
fast-track planning legislations, amendments and corporate facilitations and no
separate commitment to protections.
http://tarapixie.tk
http://www.savetara.com
http://www.tarawatch.org
My faith in humanity has been restored. I now hate the Greens a little less.
May I ask two things:-
The Greens went to the election in direct response to the perceived corruption of the FF/PD
adminstration and when they negotiated their programme for government saw fit to dump
their platform. I have not seen the programme for government they agreed, but assume its
available through the Molesworth Street Publications Service.
1. Do FG have an environmental Wing and if they do, do they have an agreed platform
regarding Planning and Heritage protections?
2.I am aware that there was an embryonic FG environmental lobby, and that one of their
failed candidates (Colm Mac Eochaidh, who was opposed to Enda Kenny's election
as leader ;and the Junior Counsel in the Salafia Case was a member of the party). However
the usual transport spokesperson, Ms Mitchell does not have much to say on the
abolition of Duchas nor on the introduction od the raft of planning laws which include:-
The Roads Act 1998, The Housing (Miscelleneous Provisions) Act 2002, The National
Monuments Act (amended 2004) The SIB.
Given that we are now in breach of Multiple directives on EU habitat directive and
heritge protection- do any of the parties incl.FG/YFG have an agreed platform on
protections and remedies for fast-track planning or is it just ok to follow the lead
of the ruling party?
http://www.tarapixie.tk
http://www.savetara.com
http://tarawatch.org
I dont think there is an actual policyon heritage sites. As I understand thier position changes depending on the site. My local TD, Richard Bruton, has campaigned several times to defend various historical marks in my area. The Tara situation, last I heard, they are waiting for some report being made by some history guy. I forgot the name of the organisation.
People in FG/YFG I have spoken to seem, to be more annoyed why the site was chosen, oppose to where the site is. There is a cheaper option than the chosen route. Regardless of the historical merit, building it there is terrible planning.
It is highly unusual that not one of the political parties incumbent in Dail Eireann have a
stated platform or remedy for the situation wherein not one of our National Monuments
has the statutory protection afforded to heritage in any other EU state, and that it does
not seem to be a priority for parties.(given that the thrust of FF/PD was to demolish these
protections through abolition in favour of the corporate lobby) .
Minister Gormley has not once mentioned any methods for remedy of the current situation
nor has he instituted a committee or round table to discuss the issues regarding the threat
to Natural or built heritage that the three Ministers for the Environment who preceeded him
have left bereft of statutory protection through introducing laws that favour the
corporate lobby and the profit-making propensities of agencies such as the NRA.
I attended the launch of the SIB and was told categorically that Minister Roche did not
envisage the introduction of such protections at this time.
http://www.tarapixie.tk
http://www.savetara.com
http://www.tarawatch.org
PATHETIC & SAD.
A mere promise to halt further *Road* development in the area.
Thanks, for nothing.
Act Two Scene Four
Gormley Saves Tara
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83044
http://www.savetara.com/statements/100107_order.html
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