EU Speak out on Tara

EU Speak out on Tara

South Meath Post 30-9-08
by Evan Short

Tarawatch anti M3 protesters claimed last week to have been backed by the EU in their continuing campaign against the motorway.

According to Vincent Salafia, the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament has expressed its "ongoing concern" regarding the impact of the M3 on the Hill of Tara archaeological complex and the demolition of the Lismullin National Monument.

In its annual activity report from 2007 released last Wednesday, the Committee commented specifically on the absence of any assesment in advance of a 2007 decision to remove a national monument situated at Lismullin in the path of the M3 Motorway project near Tara in County Meath.

The Lismullin Henge, described by the American Archaeological Journal as one of its most signiicant finds of 2007, was removed in January to permit the M3 to go ahead. According to Vincent Salafia, the comments were a welcome boost for Campaigners.

" We welcome the ongoing concern of the Petitions Committee in this matter and urge the EU Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas to speed up his legal action against Ireland over Tara.The M3 isstill 3 years from completion as it has been delayed due to multiple sub contractors withdrawing from the project, and there is still plenty of time to resolve this issue"