Madam, - The news that a major archaeological site has been discovered at Lismullin in the Tara-Skryne valley does not come as a surprise to anybody who has followed the sorry story of the M3 motorway.
From the very beginning, through all the planning stages for this road (1999-2003) right up to to the Minister's directions in May 2005 and beyond, archaeological and historical experts warned against routing the motorway through this area, not only because the valley was an integral component of the Tara archaeological landscape but also because it was inevitable that major archaeological sites would be located in this stretch of the motorway.
This is not the only major site in this section of the motorway route. It is simply the only one that the authorities have so far recognised as a national monument. Serious questions must now again be asked about the National Monuments Act 2004, which leaves the decision on whether to report the discovery of a national monument entirely up to the developers on road schemes. Apart from the conflict of interest involved, the Act does not set out any objective criteria for the determination of what is or is not a national monument. How many national monuments are being destroyed simply because they are not recognised as such? Given all these considerations, and the importance of full consultation, it is imperative that the decision on this monument should not be rushed and should definitely not be made during the election period. - Yours, etc,
JULITTA CLANCY, Batterstown, Co Meath.
Madam, - The term "national monument" has an inherent status and dignity to it. It echoes the phrase "national pride", which is often used in direct relation to these monuments because of the cultural and historical significance they hold for a country.
Given the discovery of a national monument in the pathway of the M3 motorway at Tara, it will be interesting to see if Minister for Heritage Dick Roche will give the order for this important find to be "preserved by record", ie, noted down, photographed, parts put in storage, then the remainder bulldozed through and cemented over.
If this proves to be the case, on a symbolic level, what a monument to the nation that will show itself to be. - Yours, etc,
FIONNUALA DEVLIN, Planufer, Berlin.