Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2007
581 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there was contact, direct or indirect, written or unwritten, between him or his Department officials prior to 14 June 2007 on the issue of the M3; the nature of that contact; the extent of that contact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19041/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra582 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department engaged in contact or received contact from representatives (details supplied) between 24 May and 14 June 2007 inclusive on the issue of the M3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19042/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra583 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he took upon being informed of the decision to proceed with the construction of the M3; if a formal protest was lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19043/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra584 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he or his Department officials were involved in any way in discussions or communication in relation to the M3 since the 24 May 2007; the nature of such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19044/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 581 to 584, inclusive, together.
I first became aware of my predecessor Minister Roche's recent determination of statutory directions in relation to works of an archaeological nature on the approved route of the M3 motorway when I received a text in the Dail chamber on the evening of Thursday the 14 June. Neither I nor any of my party colleagues had any prior contact with Minister Roche or his Department on this issue. On 15 June 2007, following my appointment as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I examined my Department's file in relation to the directions given to the National Roads Authority (NRA) in respect of the newly discovered national monument at Lismullin.
In making the directions the former Minister followed the procedures prescribed under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 2004. These included consultation with the Director of the National Museum. Following receipt of the views of the Director the matter was submitted to my predecessor for a determination in relation to the directions. I have received unequivocal legal advice from the Attorney General that, without a change in the material circumstances relating to the newly discovered monument, it is not open to me to review, or amend, the directions given by my predecessor.
A recommendation of the Director of the National Museum that a special committee should be installed to ensure that excavation of the national monument at Lismullin is carried out to the highest and most transparent standard has been accepted and is referred to in the directions. The National Monuments Service of my Department, Dr. Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum, the National Roads Authority and Professor Gabriel Cooney, Head of the School of Archaeology, UCD are represented on the committee. At my request, Conor Newman of the Department of Archaeology at NUI, Galway, recognised as an expert on Tara, has also agreed to join the committee. I recently visited the Tara/Skreen valley with Conor Newman and Dr. Pat Wallace. The committee has held its first meeting and will continue to advise me on the conduct of the archaeological investigations to be carried out under the statutory directions over the course of the excavation of the monument.
