Madam, - Dr Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum (May 25th), bemoans the fact that we quote in our literature from his communications with Minister for the Environment Dick Roche regarding the proposed M3 motorway at Tara.
Dr Wallace is a senior public official who, through applicable legislation, has a statutory role in the designation of national monuments and in how they are to be treated.
We obtained his communication with the Minister through Freedom of Information legislation.
Dr Wallace is quoted thus: "[ Tara] is one of only a small number of monumental complexes that are of more than usual cultural importance from the standpoint not only of archaeology, but also of history, mythology, folklore, language, place-names study, and in the case of Tara, even of national identity."
It is not our intention to involve Dr Wallace in "politicised public controversy". It is simply our intention to put into the public domain all relevant materials and communications regarding an issue of huge public interest and unease. Any implication that Dr Wallace endorses our position on the re-routing of the proposed motorway is unintentional. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CANNEY, KEVIN HAYES, Dr MUIREANN NÍ BHROLCHÁIN,
Campaign to Save Tara, Navan, Co Meath.