Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Fine Gael does not believe there must be tension between building our infrastructure and preserving our heritage. In this, as in most things, a sense of balance and common sense is the way forward and is essential. What is precious, unique and irreplaceable as a national monument must be preserved and alternative routes found for our roads. If what is unearthed can be examined, mapped, excavated and moved to a museum for public view then that should happen and the road should proceed with all speed.

The value of this Bill is that it lays down clearly the procedures for dealing with discoveries but it is critical that the designation of those discoveries is clear. It cannot simply be a matter of opinion with one self-professed expert on one side saying it is a national monument and another saying it is not. If we have clear, objective criteria and a clear designation process such issues would not have to end up in the courts, forcing otherwise reasonable people into extreme positions and feeding the egos of clever lawyers for whom it is all a game, which is more important to them than the outcome. If the Minister deals with the issues by amendment or in the consolidation Bill this legislation will remove at least some of the barriers to building our infrastructure.

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