The National Roads Authority still hopes to make early progress on the controversial dual-carriageway scheme for the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow, despite the pending High Court case over the protesters occupying trees in the heavily-wooded glen.
Mr Michael Tobin, the NRA's chief executive, said he was "saddened" by the current row. When the public authorities involved had got all the necessary clearances, he found it "hard to understand that there is still a group who are not prepared to accept that democratic process."
He also asked what they were trying to save. "My understanding is that none of the trees which are to be knocked in the glen, numbering possibly 1,700, would be mature trees and many would not even be native species". At least the same number would be planted.
He noted that Wicklow County Council had carried out an environmental impact study, even though it was not strictly required, because of the sensitivity of the Glen of the Downs. This was certified in 1993 by the then Minister for the Environment, Mr Smith.
Mr Tobin also pointed out that the Minister made changes to the road scheme, reducing its width from 32 metres to 25 to minimise the environmental impact, in response to representations from interested parties who had made their views known at the time.
Since then, the scheme had gone through the normal public inquiry process for compulsory purchase orders. He said this provided another opportunity for people to express their views and, yet again, it had "successfully got over that hurdle" to win approval.
According to Mr Tobin, almost 25,000 vehicles a day are now using the existing road - many more than the 14,000 or so that would indicate the need for a dual-carriageway, in the interests of traffic safety. However, he could not say how many of these were commuters.