The unique archaeological, cultural and natural landscape of Tara and its environs will be destroyed forever if the proposed M3 is built on the route currently approved, the Dáil was told.
The Labour spokesman on the environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said the landscape had remained untouched for almost 6,000 years. The main worry related to the 14km section between Dunshaughlin and Navan.
"This section of the M3 will cut through the Tara-Skryne Valley, one of the richest archaeological landscapes in Europe, and will include a major 26-acre floodlit interchange at Blundelstown, just over one kilometre from the northern edge of the Hill of Tara itself," he added.
Mr Gilmore was moving a motion, in Private Members' time, to discontinue the plans for the M3 route.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, insisted that the archaeological works to date, including test-trenching, were being carried out in accordance with appropriate statutory authorisation, which were licences under section 26 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, as amended.
He said that in the event of archaeological features being discovered along the line of the motorway which were of national and international significance, and which would warrant classification as a national monument, both Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority would seek the appropriate consent from the Minister.
