THE GREEN Party was accused of doing a U-turn in its attitude to the works near Rath Lugh national monument on the new M3 motorway.
Joanna Tuffy (Labour, Dublin Mid West) said: "In opposition, the Green Party was against the building of this motorway, but its position has changed since going into Government.
"It is important that if preservation orders are made in respect of archaeological finds along the route, they are strongly adhered to, and that the Department of the Environment and the Government do everything in their power to ensure that happens."
In an adjournment debate Ms Tuffy said that a young woman had chained her neck to a jack in a tunnel and the fear was that if any attempt was made to remove her the tunnel could collapse, putting her life in danger.
"A dangerous situation has arisen at the site. I do not condone anyone putting their lives at risk in this way, but statements from those protesting around the site indicate that the tunnelling could put the monument at risk in addition to endangering the lives of the protesters and others around the site."
Ms Tuffy said that a permanent preservation order had been placed on the monument recently, but concerns had been expressed about its implementation.
"They are concerned about the works being carried out so close to the monument and whether the proper procedure is being followed in terms of ensuring that the preservation order is followed."
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan said that he echoed Ms Tuffy's concerns about the importance of safety at the site.
He said that to assess the stability of the esker on which the monument was located the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, had commissioned a report from an independent firm of consultants with relevant expertise in the matter.
Their report had recommended that a number of precautionary measures be put in place to ensure that the esker was not undermined during the nearby road construction works or in the longer term.
The Department of the Environment had asked the National Roads Authority to implement the measures which had been outlined in the report, according to Mr Ryan.
