Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 31 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 7

Written Answers. - Burren National Park Centre Access.

Tony Killeen

Ceist:

79 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason the Office of Public Works denied those persons in favour of the Burren National Park Centre access to the completed car park for a public meeting on 30 April 1995; and when, if ever, opponents of the Centre have been denied access. [9509/95]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

The permission of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was not sought for the use of the Burren National Park Visitor Centre site for the public meeting to which the Deputy refers.

On foot of the advance publicity about the meeting, the Chief State Solicitor's office contacted the NPWS and advised that the use of the car park for the purpose of holding a public meeting there would breach the injunction granted by Mr. Justice Costello in February 1993. The National Parks and Wildlife Service, therefore, had no option but to contact the organisers of the meeting and ask them for an undertaking that the site would not be used. The organisers gave this undertaking and this information was conveyed to the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

This prohibition applies equally to any group wishing to use the car park for any public purpose. No group has been given access to the car park since the date of the injunction.