The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has been urged to reconsider the division of responsibilities between Ministers, because of a "democratic deficit" highlighted by the Carrickmines Castle controversy.
Dr Seán Duffy, medieval historian and spokesman for the newly formed Friends of Carrickmines group, said there was nobody at the Cabinet table to fight for the archaeological protection of the Carrickmines site in south Dublin.
The responsibility for roads is held by the Department of Transport while Dúchas, the heritage service, comes under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen.
Dr Duffy said Mr Cullen had "clearly rowed in behind the Minister for Transport on this one and that's a matter that needs to be addressed at governmental level".
On Monday, the Supreme Court granted an interlocutory injunction against Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council preventing the authority from carrying out further work at the medieval site until a hearing is held.
The site was being prepared for construction work on the South Eastern Motorway which runs through some of the castle remains.
The Friends of Carrickmines, which is supporting the case for an injunction, said the case could be heard in six to eight weeks. However, Mr Michael Egan of the National Roads Authority said this was highly unlikely.
"To say it could be over in weeks is simply unrealistic," Mr Egan said. "We are talking about months. Many months could well be in prospect."
He also stood by claims that the road delays could cost €100,000 a week.
He said another part of the South Eastern Motorway project was delayed and contractors were seeking €200,000 a week.
It is understood that the National Roads Authority and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are considering seeking the consent of the Minister for the Environment to carry out the work on the site.
Under Section 14 of the 1930 National Monuments Act, permission must be granted in writing from both the local authority and the State authority with responsibility for archaeology, i.e., the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, to disturb a national monument.
A 1994 amendment specifies that consent can be granted only if it is in the interests of archaeology.
However, it is understood that the road developers have received legal advice that a less restrictive interpretation may be possible.
