A Toast to Dominic Dunne

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis

Friday December 07, 2007 19:39

by C Murray

and how one should one buy the Irish Times......

This morning I bought the Irish Times and got a headache. Two things caused deep annoyance;
and they are related: the State will pursue one of our best Heritage campaigners for
500,000 Euros costs and a letter in the Letter's Page talks of Cregganbaun and Killary
in relation to Eamon Ryan's granting of licences to prospectors for gold.Killary Harbour
is a Fjord, it provided a place for Wittgenstein to think and its got a quality of silence
that should be left undisturbed-but thats what you get when self-publicists get into the Dail-
Rattle and Hum.

Heritage Campaigning- Pic by Redjade

Dominic Dunne knows more about Heritage protection and campaign than anyone I have met, he
climbs trees like a squirrel and has worked in community for a long time. Mary Carolan reports today
that the judgement of Ms Mary Laffoy in relation to Mr Dunne's unsucessful action against The State
was overturned by the Supreme Court. This Judgement on costs handed down by Laffoy who had
said that though Dunne had lost he had brought to court issues of 'great public importance'.
The report, the Carrickmines Case and the order are all in the Times.

The case pertained to Section 8 of the NMA 2004, which allowed the then Minister and of course
the current Minister to demolish National Monuments within 28 sitting Days of the Oireachtas
to allow the car lobby free sway on heritage and of course to allow FF to plan Urban sprawl,
car dependency and re-zoning initiatives.

Dominic has been a fund-raiser for the Glen of The Downs and knows how to throw a gig.
He has been involved in the campaign to protect 16 Morre Street , Carrickmines
Castle and Trim Castle. In short Dominic probably knows a lot more about how legislation
works than the current Minister for Natural resources who stopped Uranium mining
in Donegal (press-releasing his abhorrence, whilst granting licences to gold-diggers
in the most scenic part of the whole country).It brings the whole Green budget spin
into marvellous context for me at least.

The other day I asked why the Green party had not advanced protections under Aarhus
Commitments, not looked at re-instigating Duchas or similar agency with Statutory
Powers in relation to Heritage Protection (both natural and built) and it seems that
we must face 4 1/2years of media playing and timed release of issues but no
confrontation of basic sound and honest approach to Heritage Destruction by GP.

[Irish Times page 4]
*There are currently 57 private interests wanting to plan under Minister Roche's
Strategic Infrastructure Bill which will re-structure the courts and An Bord Pleanala.
Minister Ryan has refused uranium mining but allowed for a SAC in Mayo to be
distrupted by a private interest with shareholders. The SIB on a case by case basis
will erode private rights in the interest of a few people who desire to profit themselves
with the usage of our environment.