27th February 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS CALL FOR CHANGE IN MOTORWAY RATHER THAN CHANGES IN NATIONAL MONUMENTS ACT

The Green Party has called on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Martin Cullen, not to introduce changes in the 1994 National Monuments Act to facilitate the partial demolition of Carrickmines Castle.

"It is important that the Minister does not roll back on the significant protection for our archaeological heritage introduced by Michael D. Higgins in the 1994 legislation."

"Minister Cullen has failed to express any concern for Carrickmines Castle up to now. It would be ironic if he were now to introduce legislation to amend the 1994 National Monuments Act in order to steamroll the motorway through the Castle.”

Mr. Cuffe expressed surprise at Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's eleventh hour decision last Friday to state that Carrickmines Castle was not a national monument.

"At this stage we want the alternatives to the road plan to be seriously considered. The motorway can be built without demolishing significant parts of Carrickmines Castle. These alternatives have been put to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, but no changes have been made in the plans.

ENDS