Press Release: Environment  3 July 2006

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Green Party says Heritage Trust appointments flawed

"Minister Roche appears to be engaged in a personal vendetta against An Taisce"

The Green Party has expressed concern at today's appointments to the new Irish Heritage Trust. The Party says that the funding of €6 million for 2006 is inadequate for its aims and it has criticized the omission of An Taisce representatives from its Board.

Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "Minister Roche appears to be engaged in a personal vendetta against An Taisce, the Irish National Trust. An Taisce has more than 50 years of experience in fearlessly protecting our nation's heritage. It is small-minded and parochial of the Minister to leave the organisation off the board of the new organisation.

"In addition, several of the appointments have more experience of concrete than conservation. Pierse Contracting and Ballymore Properties are better known for the quantity of their output, rather than the quality of their conservation projects.

"The amount of total tax relief of €6 million will not go far in achieving the Trust's aims and I imagine is probably dwarfed by the tax relief given to multi-storey car parks in any given year," concluded Deputy Cuffe.