Tara campaigners win chance to address committee

A group protesting at the current planned route of the M3 which was denied an opportunity to appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee will now be allowed to make a submission, it emerged today.

The Save Tara Skryne Valley Group, which opposes the building of the M3 at the Hill of Tara, was originally told they could not make a representation to the committee because it went beyond the terms of reference and was not confined to purely transport issues.

After intervention by committee members Roisín Shortall, TD and Senator David Norris on behalf of the group, they have now been invited to give a presentation next Wednesday.

The organisation said they will use the opportunity to outline the scale of international opposition to building the road and the grounds for seeking an injunction against work at the archaeologically-important site.

Muireann Ni Bhrolchain, spokesman for the Save Tara Skryne Valley group, said: “The scale of international opposition is swelling every day.

“I want to make it clear that like us, these people are not ‘anti-roads’. They are simply outraged at the proposed destruction of Tara, and would feel the same if it were a landing strip or a cheese factory that was being proposed.”