One more mess for Gormley to tackle

IT was pleasing to hear Environment Minister John Gormley voice his concerns about chewing gum and cigarette butts on our streets and his determination to clean up the mess.

It was pleasing also to read that Mr Gormley had acted against Monaghan County Council, with its Fianna Fáil majority, in relation to land rezoned last March during the previous government’s term in office.

Obviously, Mr Gormley is not afraid of vested interests or Fianna Fáil in local authority circles and is willing to exercise powers rarely used under an act passed in 2000 to take them on.

What next courageous step might we expect him to take in the national interest? Why not Tara and the M3?

After all, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has said what is happening to our national monuments in the Gabhra Valley is illegal.

The EU has said work on the M3 should stop now. Surely we are good Europeans?

What a start in office it could be for Mr Gormley — cigarette butts, chewing gum, rescinding the decision to rezone land in Monaghan. And Tara? More than 5,000 years of our heritage saved. It’s a long road that hasn’t a turning.

Mark McMullan

22 Belleview Copse

Booterstown

Co Dublin