Sir, - As, no doubt, one of the "hysterical mediaevalists" K. Mawhinney has in mind, perhaps I may respond to his criticism of Mr Proinsias De Rossa's intervention in the affair.
With respect, I think he has not grasped the grounds of Mr De Rossa's concern. The European Commission has approved €74 million towards the South-Eastern Motorway. This funding is, however, conditional.
The Commission is bound by the EU's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, which requires that a proper EIA of the route be completed in advance. If its finds otherwise, the money will not be forthcoming and K. Mawhinney, like the rest of us, will to remain frustrated at the non-completion of the M50.
Mr De Rossa is, I believe, acting in the public interest in recognising that the Commission may deem the EIA inadequate in this instance, and thus refuse funding. By facing up to that, we have the opportunity to act now and prevent the Irish taxpayer picking up the bill.
The funding is in doubt because a 1983 report from An Foras Forbartha, which recommended that the road avoid Carrickmines Castle by running to the south, was disregarded in the EIA done in 1997. Consequently, the motorway instead runs straight through the site, and the Commission could, therefore, reasonably conclude the EIA was inadequate. So, we need to do something.
K. Mawhinney takes consolation from Seamus Brennan's exaggerated claim that 60 per cent of the castle will be preserved. But Mr Brennan is Minister for Transport. His remit is to build roads, not to conserve heritage. This is the remit of the Minister for the Environment, who has remained silent throughout this affair. - Yours, etc.,
SEÁN DUFFY,
Chairman,
Friends of Medieval Dublin,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.