A Year In Tara

national | crime and justice | opinion/analysis

Friday December 28, 2007 19:42

by Tara Support

Trial Date January 21st 2008.

It is not so easy to build a time line on the issue of Tara and all that this entails.

For starters the issue began many years ago and the campaigns have largely evolved
with new people coming on to help as was necessitated, however, the General Election of
2007 provided a useful focus and of course saw a corrupt Minister for Environment
replaced by one who is morally inept and constitutionally Hamstrung.. but I will give it a go.
http://www.savetara.com/articles/2007/122707_contractor....html

The Henge Site is In the Ownership of the NRA since 26-12-07

The road protests gained momentum with the political realisation that a hung Dail would
facilitate the push for the M3 toll road, it played directly into the hands of FF and their cronies
who during the development of 'The Programme for Government' were aware that under Irish
Legislation there are no protections for the fragile archaeological complex that comprises
the Gabhra Valley. There were 38 separate licences granted by Minister Roche for the
excavations and a thirty ninth site was 'discovered' during the roads Programme.

The series of legislations that led to this crisis involved the offices of Martin Cullen TD,
Noel Dempsey TD and Dick Roche TD. The EU will investigate the issue
and it will become quite clear that since the dumping of the Heritage portfolio
in the immeadiate aftermath of the last election that planning was a big issue to FF.

A simple timeline:-

**FF dropped the Heritage Portfolio in 2001.

**Martin Cullen abolished Duchas in 2003- leaving the Irish people with no statutory
agency to implement the National Monuments Act.

**In 2004 the NMA was amended to allow for 'Preservation by record' of National Monuments
within 28 sitting days of the Oireachtas- or the 'Granting of Unreviewable discretionary
powers to the sitting Minister of the Environment.

**The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2002 Act allowed Gardai and contractors
sweeping powers in relation to protest (including impounding of vehicles).

**and the SIB finished the thing off , by allowing for a re-structuring of the Irish courts
and Planning System which reduces citizen say and ameliorates the crony developer
role.

It could be called a charter for corruption.

Tara was left unprotected by Irish law and the Protestors faced into criminalisation
and violence for highlighting the abuse of office by the named TD's. The 11 protestors
are facing court again on January the 21st 2008 and the usual support is welcomed.

John Gormley took up the revolving Environment Chair and will probably work hard with
Roche on Lisbon as well. He has refused to meet with the protestors nor to listen to
the EU who have accused the Irish of Breach- his response:- "My Hands are tied".

On the 26th of December 2007 the site of Lismullin was handed over to the NRA,
who are a corporate concern involved in profiteering by tolling our roads. They are also
one of the only employers of archaeological technicians in the state. They head hunt
archaology graduates and offer them four year contracts. There is no job security
involved. They are appointed by the serving Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey
appointed his cousin to the board of the NRA.

http://www.savetara.com/articles/2007/122707_contractor....html

Lismullin :- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85490
Lismullin Breach:- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85261
EU:- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83209
Averting our eyes from crime at Tara:- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82427

Paula Geraghty did the Photos of Lismullin.

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http://www.tarapixie.net
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