Gormley to review last-minute Roche decision on M3

The new Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, is facing a major headache as he begins his first day at work today.

Last night, the outgoing minister, Dick Roche, signed an order allowing the M3 to be built over the national monument recently discovered near the Hill of Tara at Lismullen.

Mr Roche decided that the monument should be studied in detail, but that the motorway should not be re-routed in order to protect the site.

Mr Gormley, who is one of two Green Party ministers in the new cabinet, is expected to review the decision today.

The Greens have previously criticised the decision to build the M3 in the archaeologically rich area around the Hill of Tara.

New Minister for Transport John Gormley on his first Cabinet meeting.