Motorway:The former minister for the environment, Dick Roche, has signed an order for the "preservation by record" of a recently-discovered historic monument at Lismullen, Co Meath, on the route of the proposed M3.
In one of his final acts in office, Mr Roche on Tuesday decided that the prehistoric henge found at Lismullen should be photographed, sketched and measured before the motorway goes through the site.
Last night, the Department of the Environment said the order complied with advice from the National Museum and could not be reversed by the incoming Green Party Minister for the Environment, John Gormley.
"The order was signed on Tuesday but it was decided not to issue a press release at that point because there was so much else going on," a spokesman for the department said last night.
Conservation campaigner Vincent Salafia said his group, Tara Watch, would sue the new Government over the move in a bid to halt the construction of the M3.
The prehistoric circular henge monument at Lismullen was discovered earlier this year, leading conservationists to claim it supported their contention that the Hill of Tara archaeological complex also included the Gabhra Valley area.
Confirming that he had given directions regarding the preservation by record of the site at Lismullen, Mr Roche said his instructions had been issued "during the week". He said the instructions had been made with the advice of the National Museum.
He had accepted a recommendation from the museum director, Dr Pat Wallace, that a committee be established to ensure the monument gets the fullest possible attention and is excavated to the highest standard. The directions issued by Mr Roche require the National Roads Authority to "fully excavate and record that part of the national monument located within the land-take for M3 approved road development".