National Development Plan 'may breach EU law'

It is feared today that the National Development Plan may be in breach of EU law.

The EU Environment Commissioner Margot Walstrom has written to the Government about its failure to carry out an environmental assessment for the plan.

The Commission is threatening to take action against the Government, which could put a stop to some projects funded by the €184bn scheme.

It has been given a month to reply to the accusations, but a spokesperson for the Department of Finance insists it has not breached any directive.