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#43 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:32 am
Subject: "There is NOTHING we can do" ??? 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
An almost identical copy of the "There is nothing we can do" Ann Marie Kelly letter text below has been published on Page 8 of this week's edition of The Tuam Herald Newspaper (dated February 26th 2004).
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 8:07 PM
Subject: Fw: Connacht Tribune letter & Bord Pleanala information 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 11:06 PM
Subject: Fw: Connacht Tribune letter & Bord Pleanala information

Dear Editor,
 
I feel that the letter by Mr Kilgannon on last week's Connacht Tribune should not go unchallenged. 
 
While I fully agree with the 4 points made by Mr Kilgannon and his calling for an investigation into the activities of Galway County Council, I would like to point out that he appears to have conveniently missed out on some other very important issues raised at the public meeting in Ballyfa on February 9th (which we both attended).  

1) In recent weeks it has emerged that Sam Shires Recycling company offered to finance, build, and run a recycling plant which did not require the use of either superdumps or incinerators.  As Galway County Councillors have been slyly aware of all along it seems, this offer was rejected in July 2001 - well over 2 years ago now - by the Galway County Council Manager (Mr. Donal O'Donohue) and his management team.  Despite Minister Noel Tracy's shoddy attempts to cover bad reasons with good at Ballyfa, I can find no genuinely good reason at all for the rejection of this offer. 
 
2) As I pointed out at the Ballyfa meeting, and allowing for the fact I am a law student, there is a very strong possibility that Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2002 is unconstitutional.  The content of Article 28A (Item 1) of our written Constitution reads as follows: "The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities."
 
In my opinion nothing could be clearer than the Article 28A statement above, and to remove the decision making powers in regard to superdumps from the elected representatives of local communities such as Kilconnell and New Inn is nothing short of dictatorship by central government: and wholly in breach of our Constitution.
 
3) Though it was not mentioned at the Ballyfa meeting, it is nevertheless common knowledge that a bribe offer of €50,000 is not being investigated even though efforts to do so have been made in the Dail by the Leader of the Green Party, Deputy Trevor Sargent T.D.  How come it was not any of the east Galway TDs who raised this extremely serious matter in the Dail? 
 
Mr Kilgannon is canvassing on behalf of Fine Gael, who are supposed to be the opposition party.  As such, they should have demanded that President Mary McAleese tested the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2002 by referring the matter to the Supreme Court - as is normal in cases where there is doubt.  As the present "guardian" of the Republic of Ireland Constitution, that is (in my view) by far the most important responsibility of President Mary McAleese.  And, as recent legal events connected with the Carraigmines Campaigners (M50 Motorway) suggest, at least one other law may have been given the go-ahead under President McAleese's "guardianship" which the Supreme Court later rejected as "unconstitutional".
 
It should also be pointed out, and as became clear yet again at the Ballyfa meeting, that FF and FG now appear to be singing from the exact same "Hymn Book" when it comes to the protection of local community interests regarding superdumps.  "There is nothing we can do" is still the central theme of their very vocal performance, and this six-word mantra was repeated over and over again in Ballyfa, as it has been since Fianna Fail Deputies Treacy and Kitt betrayed our communities by voting in favour of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2002 in the Dail nearly two years ago.  Who was it once said: "If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it."?  
 
The truth is, and as I pointed out in Ballyfa, the Galway County Councillors could - and should (in my view) - all resign on the grounds that they no longer have the legal power they need to do their jobs responsibly under the terms of Article 28A of our written Constitution.
 
As I stated in Ballyfa, I see the ongoing "There is nothing we can do" stance of our elected local government representatives as an absolute disgrace.
 
Instead of resigning after they were made powerless to protect the environment (in the interests of the local communities who elected them), the Galway County Councillors are instead choosing to keep on attending County Council meetings (at the expense of the taxpayer) which they can now have no meaningful input to.  Much more irritating from the viewpoint of the public, is that the FF and FG councillors keep on turning up at anti dump meetings in places such as Ballyfa and Kilconnell - for no purpose, it seems, other than to placate and to appease gullible members of the public on behalf of their tyrannous puppet-masters in Dublin (and elsewhere perhaps), and to try and get votes for themselves in the next election.
 
I would ask why is Mr Kilgannon and his other companions in FF and FG seeking election to a forum which gives them no worthwhile say in local community matters?  It wouldn't by any chance, would it, have anything to do with the many thousands of very easy-to-come-by EUROS they collect in expenses generated for them by the large numbers of hard working taxpayers who are thoroughly sick and tired of listening to them (and their false mantras)? 
 
Is Mise le Meas,
Ann Marie Kelly
Killaan,
Woodlawn,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Which direction from here?
 
Sick dictatorship <<<  OR  >>> Healthy democracy
 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#42 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:03 pm
Subject: Board Pleanala Appeal (for the attention of Ms Catherine Nolan) 		newinngalway
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=======================
For attention of:
Ms Catherine Nolan
Board Pleanala
64 Marlborough Street
Dublin 1.
=======================
 
Your reference:  PL 07 205181 (Celtic Waste landfill site at Kilconnell, County Galway).
 
Dear Ms Nolan,
 
Following our telephone conversation of last Thursday, I would like to object (as an observer) to the Celtic Waste plan for Kilconnell.
 
Later today I will send a signed copy of this e-mail to you through the registered post, together with a cheque for €50 to cover the fee you mentioned. 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++
 
I wish to object to the proposed Celtic Waste landfill site at Kilconnell on the following grounds:
 
1) Constitutionality of Waste Management Act 2002
 
As I mentioned to four local politicians at the end of an Anti-Dump Meeting in Kilconnell on December 8th 2003, I have long believed that Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2002 is in breach of Article 28A of the written Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. This is because of the fact that it completely removes all power from the democratically elected local government politicians regarding important local community matters connected with the location of huge rubbish dumps (e.g. those now planned for Kilconnell and New Inn), and instead places it entirely in the hands of UNELECTED County Council managers.
 
The following day (i.e. December 9th 2003) I sent backup letters through the registered post to the four politicians concerned (Deputy Callanan T.D., Deputy Connaughton T.D., Deputy McHugh T.D., and Counsellor Michael Mullins), and asked them, and their political colleagues, to have the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2002 reviewed. To date, I have not received any reply at all from any of the four people in question. 
 
Counsellor Michael Mullins told me (twice) on December 8th 2003 that he would write to President Mary McAleese about the matter: which, as President McAleese is the guardian of our Constitution, seemed very appropriate to me.  For reasons unknown to me, and although she could easily have checked the matter with the Supreme Court (at no expense to herself) I believe, it appears to be the case that President McAleese refused to do so: even though an article in the Irish Times Newspaper dated July 11th 2001 clearly states: "An appeal was made in the Dail yesterday to the President, Mrs Mary McAleese, to refer the controversial  Waste Management Bill to the Supreme Court.  Nora Owen (FG, Dublin North) urged the President, " the third element of the Oireachtas", to ask the Supreme Court to test the constitutionality of the Bill".  At an earlier period in time, Ms Nora Owen was (I understand) Minister for Justice in the Republic of Ireland.  
 
I also e-mailed all of the Galway TDs regarding this matter on December 17th 2003.  In response, I received an e-mail from Minister Eamon O'Cuiv T.D. dated December 23rd 2003 stating that as Article 28A (and the closely related Aarhus Convention Agreement) "comes under the remit" of Minister for Justice Michael McDowell T.D., he had forwarded my e-mail to him for "direct reply" to me.  To date, I have heard nothing at all from Minister McDowell.
 
As I trust Board Pleanala will understand, the fact that the politicians concerned appear unable to answer me suggests that there really is something VERY seriously wrong regarding the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2002.
 
Further details (including copies of the registered letter receipts to the 4 politicians referred to above) can be seen at Internet page location:
http://www.finnachta.com/Kilconnell8Dec2003.htm#LocalPoliticians
 
Please note that the problem with Article 28A of the Constitution has also been pointed out to the European Parliament (just over 2 years ago).  This can be seen at:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kellybrendan/petition1/feb-1-2002.htm
 
2) Serious bribery allegation not being investigated
 
For a very considerable time now, there are allegations that (in the presence of TWO witnesses) the Chairman of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group was offered a bribe of €50,000 to help Celtic Waste implement their plans for their landfill site in Kilconnell.  Though this matter has been raised in the Dail by Deputy Trevor Sargent T.D. (Leader of the Green Party), no attempt whatsoever (that I know of) has been made to investigate it. 
 
I have also sent letters through the registered post to Prime Minister Ahern T.D. and Environment Minister Cullen T.D. on July 11th 2003 requesting that this bribery matter be investigated.  To date, I have not received any reply from either Minister Ahern or Minister Cullen. 
 
Further information, including copies of the registered letter receipts to Prime Minister Ahern and Minister Cullen, and an Internet link to the Deputy Sargent / Minister Cullen Dail debate can be found at the following Internet page location:
http://www.finnachta.com/CorruptionInvestigationRequest.htm#Bribery
 
As I trust Bord Pleanala will understand, the fact that this bribery matter is not being investigated appears totally irresponsible to me; and, among other things, it leaves me feeling that I must be living in a "banana republic" of some kind.
 
3) Woodlawn House
 
During the summer of 2001 a group of local people from around the Woodlawn area of east County Galway held meetings (often informal) for the purpose of trying to find ways of co-operating with anybody who might be interested in restoring Woodlawn House - which has a very long, and a very interesting history that is closely connected with the Lord Ashtown title. The Lord Ashtown title is held by the Trench Family - who, apart from being huge landowners in Ireland at one time, are also closely associated with what many now regard as the most decisive battle in recorded Irish history: The Battle of Aughrim (1691).
 
Though the Friends Of Woodlawn House Group were doing very well with their efforts to have the property restored, in terms of attracting interest from property developers, they were forced to shelve their plans when word got out that Celtic Waste - with the help and support of Galway County Council please note - were planning to install a huge rubbish just a mile or so from the property.  Further information (including photographs of the main Woodlawn House building) can be found at:
 
It may also be worth mentioning that Woodlawn House is situated just 100 yards or so from the Esker Riada - the "Great Road" ( "An Sli Mor") of ancient Ireland, and by far the most important of the "5 great roads" frequently referred to in the ancient histories of Ireland.  Not surprisingly, the whole area close by is completely festooned with ancient monuments of many different kinds, from many different periods of history.  For example, the world famous Turoe Stone is just about 4 miles to the west, and Kilconnell Friary is just a mile or two to the east.  For further information on these three important heritage sites, please see:
 
Please note also that if the Celtic Waste plan goes ahead, one side of the proposed rubbish dump will come very close to the Esker Riada ridge.
 
4) Rejected recycling proposal 
 
Though few (if any) local people knew anything much about it until the first few weeks in January of this year, it appears that Galway County Council rejected (around July 2002) what seems to be an excellent plan for dealing with the County's waste.  This proposal, which depended heavily on recycling, was made by a consortium of three companies lead by local businessman Mr.Tommy Roche (Roche Engineering Limited); and, it completely avoided the need for the two things most people wish to avoid: superdumps and incinerators.
 
Detailed information on this particular proposal can now be found at:
 
I had a lengthy discussion a few months ago with Mr Roche about this matter.  Assuming I understood him correctly, the offer to Galway County Council set out at the above Internet address STILL stands.  I would ask Bord Pleanala to please take very careful note of this point.  I would also ask them to note that nobody I know (including Mr Roche) can come up with any GOOD reason why Galway County Council rejected this offer. 
 
Though I can only guess at a reason for Galway County Council rejecting this "people and environment friendly" plan, I tend to think that it must be something to do with the fact that recycling is labour intensive (by comparison to throwing rubbish of all kinds into a landfill site in an "any-old-way-will-do" manner), and that the big financial profits associated with the Celtic Waste type of superdump landfill sites would be badly affected.  (Though this is something Bord Pleanala might wish to verify for themselves, local reports in widespread circulation suggests that superdump operators such as Celtic Waste can make profits in the region of EUROS 500,000 per day from sites such as that proposed for Kilconnell - and all at the expense of the local communities of course.)
 
5) Shortcomings in the Republic of Ireland legislation
 
With due regard for the contents of section 4) above, I feel it is very inappropriate for the Republic of Ireland Government to be now RUSHING headlong ahead (in the way they seem to be) with such things as superdump projects when the EU Commission are clearly unhappy about what they see as "shortcomings in the Irish legislation governing EIAs (Environment Impact Assessments)." 
 
Another of the several problems bothering the EU Commission at present involves the way citizens are charged for submitting information of the kind I am submitting in this letter: which, when lost earnings are taken into account over the past five years or so, has already cost me hundreds of thousands of Euros to compile in forms such as these presented in this e-mail (and in several others contained in the two web sites listed at the end of this letter).   
 
The following piece of text comes from the EU web page address provided just below: "The Commission has decided to make two referrals to the Court of Justice with regard to Ireland. One relates to Irish legislation requiring citizens to pay a fee of €20.00 (and €45.00 on appeal) if they want their opinions taken into consideration when an EIA is carried out. The cumulative amount can represent fifty percent of the weekly income of those on social security. In the Commission's view, charging citizens for submitting information makes it less likely that they will contribute to the environmental decision-making process and so works against the interests of the Directive. Ireland has not yet indicated any intention of withdrawing this fee-based system."
 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++
 
For your convenience, and for future reference purposes, you may wish to note that I intend to place a copy of the text of this e-mail at the following Internet address (sometime within the coming day or so):
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
 
 
Mr William Finnerty
St Albans
New Inn
Ballinasloe
County Galway
 
ENCLOSED (with printed copy of this e-mail letter):
Bank of Ireland cheque for €50 made out to Bord Pleanala.

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#41 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:36 pm
Subject: "Wrongful acts" of public servants, and the law ... 		newinngalway
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Dear Vincent,
 
As you may already know, the Supreme Court (Republic of Ireland) decided in " Byrne v Ireland (1972) " that the State is a juristic person which can be sued for the "wrongful acts" of its public servants.
 
With due regard for the events of recent months connected with plans to install two HUGE rubbish dumps locally (i.e. in the neighbouring parishes of New Inn/Bullaun & Kilconnell), and the planned new N6 Upgrade Road scheduled to go right through the heart of the Turoe/Knocknadala set of Celtic heritage sites, I (for one) now feel that legal proceedings should be initiated as soon as possible against the State on behalf of the people of New Inn and Kilconnell: for the simple reason that legal action, and the prospect of the so-called "public servants" in question having to explain themselves publicly in a court of law, it is the ONLY course left which might persuade those concerned to abandon their "wrongful acts" (as I see them) against our local communities. There is also the possibility (as I understand it), that the people concerned run the risk of ending up with criminal convictions connected with very serious offences such as "neglect of duty" and "dereliction of duty". 
 
To give you a few recent examples of the kind of "wrongful acts" I have in mind, please note that I personally handed a copy of historian Fr. Tom O'Connor's book titled "Turoe & Athenry: Ancient Capitals of Celtic Ireland" to Galway County Council Heritage Manager Ms Marie Mannion at the Heritage Awards Ceremony in Clarinbridge on September 11th 2003.  Subsequent events suggest to me that she must have COMPLETELY ignored the contents of this book: which I believe constitutes a "wrongful act by a public servant".
 
I also informed Galway County Council (National Roads Authority) Senior Staff Officer Mr Enda Cannon about Fr. O'Connor's book, and the fact that copies had been given to Ms Marie Mannion, Ms Fionnula Lynch (Heritage Council of Ireland), and Mr Michael Gibbons (Archaeologist).  As in the case of Ms Mannion, subsequent events suggest that Mr Cannon must have COMPLETELY ignored the existence of Fr O'Connor's book as well, which I also believe constitutes a "wrongful act by a public servant".
 
For further more detailed information on the recent examples of the wrongful acts outlined in the two paragraphs immediately above, please see:
 
For some older examples (relating to the SAME Turoe heritage subject, and dated March 5th 2001), please see the Internet address immediately below.  In this case the "public servants" involved include Prime Minister Ahern, the then Attorney General Mr Michael McDowell (at present Minister for Justice), and President Mary McAleese.
 
While it appears to me to be the case that ANY individual citizen of the State could initiate a "Byrne v Ireland (1972)" type of legal challenge, I feel it would be much better in our case if it was done by one or more local groups as well (such as the New Inn Anti-Superdump Group): not least because of the fact that Galway County Council have already used (and as I see it thoroughly ABUSED) the New Inn area a few times before: by virtue of the fact that they removed - unlawfully I suspect - a mile long section (roughly) of the priceless Esker Riada which passed right through the centre of New Inn village, unlawfully (I believe) destroyed a registered heritage site which was a child's burial ground that sat right on top of the Esker Riada just opposite where Bobby Cunniff now lives, later used part of the quarried-out section of the Esker Riada as a County Galway rubbish dump for a period of some 18 years (1971 to 1989), and, then left behind them a mile long string of eye-sores which, as you well know, are still ALL there on public display to this day. To the very best of my knowledge, the Esker Riada ("The Great Road" of Ireland) is by far the most important of the natural ancient monuments of Ireland - with an extremely important European human history which dates back to somewhere in the region of 7,000 B.C., and includes Clonmacnoise: which played the leading role (as far as I know) in the re-launching of western civilisation in Europe during the Dark Ages of the First Millennium A.D..
 
I have recently decided that regardless of what the New Inn Anti-Dump Group (and/or the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group) decide to do regarding a "Byrne v Ireland (1972)" type challenge of the kind mentioned above, I will now be attempting to make such a challenge on my own behalf.  Apart for all the associated financial expenses I have suffered to date, I really am sick and tired of being treated like dirt, and I believe that I deserve better than that from our so called "public servants" - who are of course all being very well paid from taxpayers money: while I have to depend entirely on my personal savings, and take several years off work (unpaid) to try and defend myself against their ongoing and unrelenting abuse of the small rural local community I live in, and am a part of.
 
Apart from the local heritage considerations, and as I assume you already know, I had to go "on the run" and leave the country in October 2002 for an 8 month period - in order to try and avoid being saddled with a criminal conviction for assault: because I shouted at a Galway County Council officer (Mr Enda Hoey): on account of he refusing to take a look at the raw sewage going from the New Inn Primary School into the river - just a hundred yards or so upstream from the pumping area for the New Inn Community water supply.  As you will also know I assume, the same illegal sewage discharge is STILL there for all to see (and to smell) today.  Further information on this particular aspect of the abuse (and associated public servant wrong-doings) I have been subjected to can be found at: http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/21Sept2002_.htm
 
Though I do not know what has become of it, local lawyer Mr Gearoid Geraghty (Fair Murtagh, Ballinasloe) informed me about a year ago that a warrant for my arrest had been issued in connection with the matter in the paragraph above.  Perhaps I will soon find out?
 
I now intend to seek legal advise very soon regarding a "Finnerty v Ireland" type legal challenge, and I expect the first question I will be asked is "what are the local Anti-Dump Groups doing?".  
 
Provided you consider it appropriate, it would be much appreciated in you could ask your Anti-Dump Group to give some consideration to the matter in the paragraph immediately above - as it might (I believe) have some bearing on the private challenge I now plan to mount by myself.  I am also copying this e-mail to Annette Gilchrist (Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group Secretary) - partly because of the disastrous heritage situation with Woodlawn House and the nearby rubbish dump planned for Kilconnell, which I assume Heritage Manager Ms Marie Mannion MUST (or should) know all about - and does absolutely nothing?  
 
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express the hope that I am not going to be left - all on my own (because of fear, or whatever) - to do the REALLY "dirty-work" of the two parishes (New Inn/Bullaun & Kilconnell): after all the avoidable personal suffering and expense I have already been put through at the hands of our "public servants" during the past five years or so.  Anybody who looks through the contents of my two main web sites (listed below), should, I believe, know what I mean.
 
Best wishes,
 
Billy.
 
PS: You may wish to know that for future reference purposes, I have now placed a copy of e-mails sent to the media and politicians regarding Fr Tom O'Connor's most recent statement - which clearly states that the planned new superdump for New Inn "is located right on the E fringe of the inner ward of the Turoe/Knocknadala Royal complex".  For the Galway/Connacht politicians, and members of the media listed on these two e-mails (both dated February 13th 2004), please see:
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#40 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Wed Feb 11, 2004 1:25 pm
Subject: Superdump to be located on MAJOR Iron Age Celtic royal complex ... 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++
 
Historian Fr. Tom O'Connor has recently pointed out certain very important errors and omissions in connection with an e-mail sent on February 4th 2004.
 
Among other things, it appears that the SUPERDUMP planned for New Inn (East Galway) "is located right on the E fringe of the inner ward of the Turoe/Knocknadala Royal complex".
 
For general background information relating to this amazing situation, please go to Internet address:
http://www.finnachta.com/5Roads.htm
 
To go to the corrections section of the above page directly, please click on:
 
To go to the royal complex section of the above page directly, please click on:
 
+++++++++++++++++++++

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#39 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:40 pm
Subject: Article 28A, and Constitutionality of Waste Management (Ammendment) Act ??? 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++

Please note that I'm not sure if the Irish Times archive reference link
provided down at the very end still works (for people who subscribe to the
Irish Times).

I got it at a time when the Irish Times allowed people to get copies of
their articles free of charge.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Irish Times

July 11th 2001

President asked to test Bill in Supreme Court

An appeal was made in the Dail yesterday to the President, Mrs McAleese, to
refer the controversial Waste Management Bill to the Supreme Court. The Bill
was sent to the Seanad after passing all stages in the Dail.

Mrs Nora Owen (FG, Dublin North) urged the President, "the third element of
the Oireachtas", to ask the Supreme Court to test the constitutionality of
the Bill.

The Minister of State for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Dan
Wallace, had refused to accept a number of amendments to the Waste
Management (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2001.

Ms Jan O'Sullivan (Labour, Limerick East) said the Bill made a mockery of
the "stated intention" of the Minister for the Environment and Local
Government to give more power to local democracy.

The Bill gives county managers full executive powers over waste management
plans without having to refer to the elected local authority. It introduces
an environmental levy of 15p per plastic bag for shoppers and higher
on-the-spot litter fines.

The Hazardous Waste Management Plan published by the Environmental
Protection Agency was only a "blueprint", said the Fine Gael spokeswoman on
the environment, Ms Deirdre Clune. The plan placed the emphasis on
"prevention and minimisation" and on developing thermal treatment and
landfill facilities.

Labour was fundamentally opposed to what the Government was trying to do,
said Mr Eamon Gilmore. The measures would "deny people their fundamental
democratic rights" at local level and "fast-track an incineration agenda".

The Bill was a recipe for conflict, Mr Trevor Sargent (Green, Dublin North)
predicted. It hardened the policy put in place in the 1996 Waste Management
Act, which focused on an "out of sight, out of mind" strategy, he said.

© The Irish Times

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2001/0707/archive.01070700131.html

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#38 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Feb 8, 2004 3:17 pm
Subject: Informing the MEDIA >>> Judicial investigation motion (Green Party Galway Convention, March 2004) 		newinngalway
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PUBLIC  MEETING  on  Monday (February 9th 2004)  by  New Inn Anti-Dump Group at  Ward's Public House, Ballyfa, New Inn, County Galway.
 
Everybody welcome.
 
Further information relating to the heritage issues involved, which includes that of the " 5 great roads of ancient Ireland ", can be found below.
 
++++++++++++++++++++
 

 
++++++++++++++++++++
 
A PUBLIC  MEETING will be held this Monday (February 9th 2004) by the New Inn Anti-Dump Group in Ward's Public House, Ballyfa, New Inn, County Galway.
 
It starts at 8.30 pm.
 
Everybody is welcome.
 
Further information relating to the heritage issues involved, which includes that of the " 5 great roads of ancient Ireland ", can be found below.
 
++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
To: Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. ; Michael D Higgins T.D. ; Minister Frank Fahey T.D. ; Minister Noel Treacy TD ; Noel Grealish T.D. ; Padraic.McCormack T.D. ; Paddy McHugh TD ; Joe Callanan TD ; Paul Connaughton TD ; Rosemary Scallon (Member of European Parliament) ; Joe McCartin (Member of European Parliament) ; Sean O'Neachtain (Member of European Parliament) ; Senator Michael Kitt ; Senator Ulick Burke ; trabbitt@... ; tmchugh@... ; tmannion@... ; sgavin@... ; sconnaughton@... ; sbreathnach@... ; posullivan@... ; pofoighil@... ; pmchugh@... ; phynes@... ; mregan@... ; mmullins@... ; mloughnane@... ; mhoade@... ; mgormally@... ; mfahy@... ; mcunningham@... ; mconnolly@... ; kquinn@... ; jmcdonagh@... ; jmcclearn@... ; jjoyce@... ; jjmannion@... ; jcuddy@... ; jconneely@... ; connie.nifhatharta@... ; twalsh@...
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 12:51 PM
Subject: Informing local politicians >>> Judicial investigation motion (Green Party Galway Convention, March 2004)

++++++++++++++++++++
 
A PUBLIC  MEETING will be held on Monday night (February 9th 2004) of the New Inn Anti-Dump Group in Ward's Pub Ballyfa - starting at 8.30 pm.
 
Everybody is welcome to attend.
 
Further information relating to the environmental and heritage issues involved can be found below.
 
++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
 

Dear Ciaran,
 
In connection with the "Judicial Investigation" motion being put forward at the Green Party March 2004 Annual Convention in Galway, you may wish to consider the information in the " 5 roads  " e-mail below (Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 10:05 PM.).
 
Allowing for developments here on the ground, I would suggest you consider widening the "investigation" so that it includes some mention of the New Inn Superdump:  as well as the very important "5 roads" issue, which, as I see it, is a matter of NATIONAL (and indeed international) importance. 
 
I'm not sure if the Green Party will be putting forward any candidate in the Ballinasloe area (for the county council elections)?  If not, the law student I mentioned to you when we met in Tuam last summer MIGHT still be interested.  However, and in so far as I can judge, the young lady in question would almost certainly feel that she would need to be completely free to speak openly in support of the Aarhus Convention principles, and, to challenge (at every opportunity) the present constitutionality of Waste Management Amendment Act 2002: which, as you no doubt know, removed power from the locally elected political representatives in a way many feel is in total breach of Article 28A of the Constitution. 
 
Unfortunately, it seems (to me at least) that "Aarhus" and "Article 28A" are BOTH completely taboo subjects for ALL of the political parties here in the Republic of Ireland at the present time??? - which, local problems apart, appears to me to be a VERY sad and worrying reflection on Irish society as a whole.  What is the world coming to, I find myself wondering?  And what will it take to wake people up?
 
You may find it useful to know that, in connection with the two large rubbish dumps planned for my local area, a number of people here have felt a HUGE boost of hope from the fact that the Supreme Court recently found in favour of the "Carraigminers".  There is a growing feeling here that Waste Management Amendment Act 2002 is also the product of "Government fiddling" - which is very slyly changing laws that were constitutional, into laws that are not. 
 
It may also be worth mentioning that - from what I hear - both the Kilconnell and the New Inn Anti-Dump Groups would like to see a local candidate running in the June 2004 county council elections.  However, it seems (not surprisingly perhaps) that they have so far been unable to find anyone willing to take on the job - which in my view could be a VERY difficult one: if they were to do their job in a way that truly benefited the LOCAL community that is.
 
Looking forward to seeing yourself and Siobhan at the Public Meeting in Ballyfa, New Inn on Monday (February 9th) - assuming both of you can make it.  I believe you can expect a large crowd, and this is partly because of an "ANTI-DUMP NEWSFLASH" document being distributed in the local area during recent days. 
 
Best wishes,
 
Billy.
 
PS:  You may wish to take account of the fact that a copy of the "5 roads" e-mail reproduced below can also be found at the Tara/Skreen address just beneath this paragraph; and, that the Tara/Skreen web sites thankfully (from my viewpoint) appear to be going from strength-to-strength on a daily basis - due much to the efforts of Irish lawyer Vincent Salafia.

 +++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Further information on the " 5 great roads of ancient Ireland "   >>>  following Dr Zion's recent request ...
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
A number of people who have very carefully examined the situation believe that the "5 great roads of ancient Ireland" were centred on Turoe (in County Galway), and NOT on Tara (in County Meath). 
 
The location of Turoe & Knocknadala (meaning "Hill of Parliament" in Celtic) shown on Ptolemy's map (from around the time of Christ) at the address immediately below, and indicated by the most southerly of the two locations marked "Regia", compares well with modern maps:
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/.Texts/Ptolemy/2/1*.html
 
A modern map (which has ZOOM facilities) of the Turoe / Knocknadala / Athenry area can be found at the following address:
 
Athenry (as in the song "Fields of Athenry") is referred to in Ptolemy's Greek record as "Auteinri" - meaning "Home of the Kings".  The use of a Greek word for an Irish placename should not surprise anybody too much because the Celts were a transnational race/group of peoples, and it seems likely they had numerous interactions with the ancient Greeks: which included an uninvited visit to Delphi in 278 B.C..  Many believe that the set of linear symbols which go all around the Turoe Stone (about two-thirds down from the top) are the result of Greek influence. 
 
A photograph of the Turoe Stone can be seen at:
 
Although more than 5 roads possibly converged on the Turoe / Knocknadala area, the "5 great roads" are thought to be those listed below.
 
Road 1:  Went in a south-easterly direction from Turoe/Knocknadala to what is now known as the town of Roscrea (in County Tipperary), and it was known as "Sli Dala" - which in the Celtic language means "Parliament Way". 
 
Road 2: The Esker Riada which ran from west to east right through the middle of Ireland from the eastern part of Galway Bay, through Turoe, and then on to Dublin.  It crossed the Shannon (Ireland's largest river) in the very centre of Ireland, close to Athlone.  Further to the east it passed through the Maynooth area - which is roughly 15 miles due south of the Hill of Tara.  More information on the Esker Riada can be found at:
 
Road 3:  "Rot na Ri" (meaning "Road of the Kings") went WSW from Turoe to "Ath Clee Magh Ri" - near Clarinbridge.  It is thought that this road may have been for the exclusive use of kings. 
 
Road 4:  Is known locally as "Sli Coolan", and it is believed to have been a royal avenue which encircled the Hill of Turoe.  Part of it ran through an area named "Fearta" (which is an old Celtic word for "royal cemetery"). 
 
Road 5:  The road named "Sli Luachra" went through Loughrea and County Clare, and ended in "Temhar Luachra"  - a Celtic "Fir Belg Capital"  five miles south of Limerick.
 
=========
 
Though some may be a little disappointed on first learning this, there is strong evidence - for those who study the facts - to suggest that much of Tara's Iron Age history (i.e. 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. roughly) has been "stolen" from Turoe.
 
The reason (very briefly) MIGHT be something like this: Although Niall of the Nine Hostages (of "St Patrick" fame) appears to have been treated as a royal prince, there is reason to believe he may have been illegitimate.  Consequently, he could not have expected to inherit very much if he stayed on in the Turoe area; and it seems he decided to move to northern Connaught, and later to Ulster (sometime in 400's A.D.) - where he was very successful in acquiring both land and power, and without having to get involved in fights with his own family. 
 
Not only did the descendants of Niall keep the family dynasty going in Ulster, they gradually expanded their territory to the south so that they began to have a certain limited amount of control over the Hill of Tara area - which of course already had a fabulous and extremely prestigious history of its own going back to the Neolithic period (say 8,000 to 2,000 B.C. for Ireland).  They then started using the Hill of Tara as an inauguration site for their kings, and by way of some "icing on the cake" (all be it fraudulent), their "historians" transplanted the history of Turoe - which partly belonged to them anyway - onto the Hill of Tara. 
 
=========
 
Unfortunately, the first Millennium A.D. piece of historical trickery is now producing some unwanted consequences which members of the O'Neill Dynasty of the time might not have wished for:
 
a)  A major new road (the N6 Upgrade) is now scheduled to run right through the very heart of what's left of the Turoe/Knocknadala complex of ancient heritage sites.
 
b)  A government superdump is scheduled to be located about a mile or two from the Turoe Stone (in an area know as Cross).  Nicknamed locally as "The Mother of all Superdumps", the plan is to feed it from the new N6 Upgrade road mentioned above - which may, some suspect, mean that rubbish of all kinds will be brought into the area from all over Ireland. 
 
c)  A privately owned Greenstar/Celtic Waste "County Galway" rubbish dump, plus an incinerator possibly at a later date some think, is also planned for Kilconnell - which has an important Franciscan Friary dating from the 1300s that more or less sits on top of the Esker Riada, about 6 miles east of Turoe.  For further information, please see:
 
This particular Greenstar project also seems to destroy ALL hope of anybody ever wanting to restore the magnificent and historic set of buildings known locally as Woodlawn House - which is the ancestral home of the present Lord Ashtown.  Though several property developers have shown intense interest in restoring Woodlawn House during recent years, who in their right mind would want to live (hold their wedding reception, or play golf. etc., etc.) next door to a HUGE rubbish dump?  More information on Woodlawn House can be found at:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~williamfinnerty/wh/
 
d)  Additional information relating to efforts by a local group (now called the Turoe Celtic Society) can be seen at:
 
=========
 
Note 1:  Much of the above "5 roads" information comes from pages 49 to 61 of the July 2003 publication titled "Turoe and Athenry: Ancient Capitals of Celtic Ireland", which was written by Fr. Tom O’Connor and edited by Dr. Kieran Jordan.  This publication is a very heavily edited version of a much larger book called "Hand of History - Burden of Pseudo-History" , which is the result of 40 years of painstaking research carried out by Fr Tom O'Connor.
 
Dr Kieran Jordan's contact information can be found at:
http://www.turoeandathenry.com/BookOrders.htm
 
Note 2:  The above mentioned Greenstar/Celtic Waste rubbish-dump project was the subject of a petition to the European Parliament made on February 1st 2002.  The text of the petition can be seen at: 
 
The above mentioned N6 Upgrade project has also been the subject of a petition to the European Parliament on September 22nd 2003, the text of which can be seen at:
 
In spite of these two petitions to the European Parliament, the Republic of Ireland Government it is still going "full-steam-ahead" with both of the projects in question (to the very best of my knowledge).  In connection with these projects, there has been no consultation with the local civilian population of the kind mentioned in the Aarhus Convention agreement: which both the European Community and the Republic of Ireland "signed" (as "contracting parties") in 1998.  Further information can be found at:
 
Note 3: Though very little work has yet been done on the web site itself, an MSN "group" facility has been set up for people interested in trying to preserve Woodlawn House.  Sadly, and partly because of a large hole in one part of the roof which is being left unattended, some local people believe this very important heritage complex MIGHT already have passed the "point-of-no-return" (in terms of cost-effective restoration). The MSN web site facility, which is now fully functional as far as members of the public wishing to join is concerned, can be viewed at:
 
=========
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:13 PM
Subject: [Celtic Party] 5 great roads of ancient Ireland

++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Reply to recent request (from Dr Zion) for information regarding the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland.
 
"Intriguingly, Escir Riada and Sligh Dala are claimed to have been among the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland."
 
For further information, please see:
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
To find more general information relating to the above matters, please visit:
and
 
====================
 
New information will be added to the " Messages " sections of the above web sites on a regular basis.
 
To go DIRECTLY to the " Messages " sections of the MSN sites, please click:

http://groups.msn.com/NewInnAntiDump/messages.msnw
or
 
====================
 
Additional information and messages relating to the above environmental & heritage issues can also be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheCelticParty/
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#37 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Feb 8, 2004 1:15 pm
Subject: Informing local politicians >>> Judicial investigation motion (Green Party Galway Convention, March 2004) 		newinngalway
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
PUBLIC  MEETING > February 9th 2004 > New Inn Anti-Dump Group
 
Please below for further information ...
 
++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
To: Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. ; Michael D Higgins T.D. ; Minister Frank Fahey T.D. ; Minister Noel Treacy TD ; Noel Grealish T.D. ; Padraic.McCormack T.D. ; Paddy McHugh TD ; Joe Callanan TD ; Paul Connaughton TD ; Rosemary Scallon (Member of European Parliament) ; Joe McCartin (Member of European Parliament) ; Sean O'Neachtain (Member of European Parliament) ; Senator Michael Kitt ; Senator Ulick Burke ; trabbitt@... ; tmchugh@... ; tmannion@... ; sgavin@... ; sconnaughton@... ; sbreathnach@... ; posullivan@... ; pofoighil@... ; pmchugh@... ; phynes@... ; mregan@... ; mmullins@... ; mloughnane@... ; mhoade@... ; mgormally@... ; mfahy@... ; mcunningham@... ; mconnolly@... ; kquinn@... ; jmcdonagh@... ; jmcclearn@... ; jjoyce@... ; jjmannion@... ; jcuddy@... ; jconneely@... ; connie.nifhatharta@... ; twalsh@...
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 12:51 PM
Subject: Informing local politicians >>> Judicial investigation motion (Green Party Galway Convention, March 2004)

++++++++++++++++++++
 
A PUBLIC  MEETING will be held on Monday night (February 9th 2004) of the New Inn Anti-Dump Group in Ward's Pub Ballyfa - starting at 8.30 pm.
 
Everybody is welcome to attend.
 
Further information relating to the environmental and heritage issues involved can be found below.
 
++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
 

Dear Ciaran,
 
In connection with the "Judicial Investigation" motion being put forward at the Green Party March 2004 Annual Convention in Galway, you may wish to consider the information in the " 5 roads  " e-mail below (Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 10:05 PM.).
 
Allowing for developments here on the ground, I would suggest you consider widening the "investigation" so that it includes some mention of the New Inn Superdump:  as well as the very important "5 roads" issue, which, as I see it, is a matter of NATIONAL (and indeed international) importance. 
 
I'm not sure if the Green Party will be putting forward any candidate in the Ballinasloe area (for the county council elections)?  If not, the law student I mentioned to you when we met in Tuam last summer MIGHT still be interested.  However, and in so far as I can judge, the young lady in question would almost certainly feel that she would need to be completely free to speak openly in support of the Aarhus Convention principles, and, to challenge (at every opportunity) the present constitutionality of Waste Management Amendment Act 2002: which, as you no doubt know, removed power from the locally elected political representatives in a way many feel is in total breach of Article 28A of the Constitution. 
 
Unfortunately, it seems (to me at least) that "Aarhus" and "Article 28A" are BOTH completely taboo subjects for ALL of the political parties here in the Republic of Ireland at the present time??? - which, local problems apart, appears to me to be a VERY sad and worrying reflection on Irish society as a whole.  What is the world coming to, I find myself wondering?  And what will it take to wake people up?
 
You may find it useful to know that, in connection with the two large rubbish dumps planned for my local area, a number of people here have felt a HUGE boost of hope from the fact that the Supreme Court recently found in favour of the "Carraigminers".  There is a growing feeling here that Waste Management Amendment Act 2002 is also the product of "Government fiddling" - which is very slyly changing laws that were constitutional, into laws that are not. 
 
It may also be worth mentioning that - from what I hear - both the Kilconnell and the New Inn Anti-Dump Groups would like to see a local candidate running in the June 2004 county council elections.  However, it seems (not surprisingly perhaps) that they have so far been unable to find anyone willing to take on the job - which in my view could be a VERY difficult one: if they were to do their job in a way that truly benefited the LOCAL community that is.
 
Looking forward to seeing yourself and Siobhan at the Public Meeting in Ballyfa, New Inn on Monday (February 9th) - assuming both of you can make it.  I believe you can expect a large crowd, and this is partly because of an "ANTI-DUMP NEWSFLASH" document being distributed in the local area during recent days. 
 
Best wishes,
 
Billy.
 
PS:  You may wish to take account of the fact that a copy of the "5 roads" e-mail reproduced below can also be found at the Tara/Skreen address just beneath this paragraph; and, that the Tara/Skreen web sites thankfully (from my viewpoint) appear to be going from strength-to-strength on a daily basis - due much to the efforts of Irish lawyer Vincent Salafia.

 +++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Further information on the " 5 great roads of ancient Ireland "   >>>  following Dr Zion's recent request ...
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
A number of people who have very carefully examined the situation believe that the "5 great roads of ancient Ireland" were centred on Turoe (in County Galway), and NOT on Tara (in County Meath). 
 
The location of Turoe & Knocknadala (meaning "Hill of Parliament" in Celtic) shown on Ptolemy's map (from around the time of Christ) at the address immediately below, and indicated by the most southerly of the two locations marked "Regia", compares well with modern maps:
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/.Texts/Ptolemy/2/1*.html
 
A modern map (which has ZOOM facilities) of the Turoe / Knocknadala / Athenry area can be found at the following address:
 
Athenry (as in the song "Fields of Athenry") is referred to in Ptolemy's Greek record as "Auteinri" - meaning "Home of the Kings".  The use of a Greek word for an Irish placename should not surprise anybody too much because the Celts were a transnational race/group of peoples, and it seems likely they had numerous interactions with the ancient Greeks: which included an uninvited visit to Delphi in 278 B.C..  Many believe that the set of linear symbols which go all around the Turoe Stone (about two-thirds down from the top) are the result of Greek influence. 
 
A photograph of the Turoe Stone can be seen at:
 
Although more than 5 roads possibly converged on the Turoe / Knocknadala area, the "5 great roads" are thought to be those listed below.
 
Road 1:  Went in a south-easterly direction from Turoe/Knocknadala to what is now known as the town of Roscrea (in County Tipperary), and it was known as "Sli Dala" - which in the Celtic language means "Parliament Way". 
 
Road 2: The Esker Riada which ran from west to east right through the middle of Ireland from the eastern part of Galway Bay, through Turoe, and then on to Dublin.  It crossed the Shannon (Ireland's largest river) in the very centre of Ireland, close to Athlone.  Further to the east it passed through the Maynooth area - which is roughly 15 miles due south of the Hill of Tara.  More information on the Esker Riada can be found at:
 
Road 3:  "Rot na Ri" (meaning "Road of the Kings") went WSW from Turoe to "Ath Clee Magh Ri" - near Clarinbridge.  It is thought that this road may have been for the exclusive use of kings. 
 
Road 4:  Is known locally as "Sli Coolan", and it is believed to have been a royal avenue which encircled the Hill of Turoe.  Part of it ran through an area named "Fearta" (which is an old Celtic word for "royal cemetery"). 
 
Road 5:  The road named "Sli Luachra" went through Loughrea and County Clare, and ended in "Temhar Luachra"  - a Celtic "Fir Belg Capital"  five miles south of Limerick.
 
=========
 
Though some may be a little disappointed on first learning this, there is strong evidence - for those who study the facts - to suggest that much of Tara's Iron Age history (i.e. 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. roughly) has been "stolen" from Turoe.
 
The reason (very briefly) MIGHT be something like this: Although Niall of the Nine Hostages (of "St Patrick" fame) appears to have been treated as a royal prince, there is reason to believe he may have been illegitimate.  Consequently, he could not have expected to inherit very much if he stayed on in the Turoe area; and it seems he decided to move to northern Connaught, and later to Ulster (sometime in 400's A.D.) - where he was very successful in acquiring both land and power, and without having to get involved in fights with his own family. 
 
Not only did the descendants of Niall keep the family dynasty going in Ulster, they gradually expanded their territory to the south so that they began to have a certain limited amount of control over the Hill of Tara area - which of course already had a fabulous and extremely prestigious history of its own going back to the Neolithic period (say 8,000 to 2,000 B.C. for Ireland).  They then started using the Hill of Tara as an inauguration site for their kings, and by way of some "icing on the cake" (all be it fraudulent), their "historians" transplanted the history of Turoe - which partly belonged to them anyway - onto the Hill of Tara. 
 
=========
 
Unfortunately, the first Millennium A.D. piece of historical trickery is now producing some unwanted consequences which members of the O'Neill Dynasty of the time might not have wished for:
 
a)  A major new road (the N6 Upgrade) is now scheduled to run right through the very heart of what's left of the Turoe/Knocknadala complex of ancient heritage sites.
 
b)  A government superdump is scheduled to be located about a mile or two from the Turoe Stone (in an area know as Cross).  Nicknamed locally as "The Mother of all Superdumps", the plan is to feed it from the new N6 Upgrade road mentioned above - which may, some suspect, mean that rubbish of all kinds will be brought into the area from all over Ireland. 
 
c)  A privately owned Greenstar/Celtic Waste "County Galway" rubbish dump, plus an incinerator possibly at a later date some think, is also planned for Kilconnell - which has an important Franciscan Friary dating from the 1300s that more or less sits on top of the Esker Riada, about 6 miles east of Turoe.  For further information, please see:
 
This particular Greenstar project also seems to destroy ALL hope of anybody ever wanting to restore the magnificent and historic set of buildings known locally as Woodlawn House - which is the ancestral home of the present Lord Ashtown.  Though several property developers have shown intense interest in restoring Woodlawn House during recent years, who in their right mind would want to live (hold their wedding reception, or play golf. etc., etc.) next door to a HUGE rubbish dump?  More information on Woodlawn House can be found at:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~williamfinnerty/wh/
 
d)  Additional information relating to efforts by a local group (now called the Turoe Celtic Society) can be seen at:
 
=========
 
Note 1:  Much of the above "5 roads" information comes from pages 49 to 61 of the July 2003 publication titled "Turoe and Athenry: Ancient Capitals of Celtic Ireland", which was written by Fr. Tom O’Connor and edited by Dr. Kieran Jordan.  This publication is a very heavily edited version of a much larger book called "Hand of History - Burden of Pseudo-History" , which is the result of 40 years of painstaking research carried out by Fr Tom O'Connor.
 
Dr Kieran Jordan's contact information can be found at:
http://www.turoeandathenry.com/BookOrders.htm
 
Note 2:  The above mentioned Greenstar/Celtic Waste rubbish-dump project was the subject of a petition to the European Parliament made on February 1st 2002.  The text of the petition can be seen at: 
 
The above mentioned N6 Upgrade project has also been the subject of a petition to the European Parliament on September 22nd 2003, the text of which can be seen at:
 
In spite of these two petitions to the European Parliament, the Republic of Ireland Government it is still going "full-steam-ahead" with both of the projects in question (to the very best of my knowledge).  In connection with these projects, there has been no consultation with the local civilian population of the kind mentioned in the Aarhus Convention agreement: which both the European Community and the Republic of Ireland "signed" (as "contracting parties") in 1998.  Further information can be found at:
 
Note 3: Though very little work has yet been done on the web site itself, an MSN "group" facility has been set up for people interested in trying to preserve Woodlawn House.  Sadly, and partly because of a large hole in one part of the roof which is being left unattended, some local people believe this very important heritage complex MIGHT already have passed the "point-of-no-return" (in terms of cost-effective restoration). The MSN web site facility, which is now fully functional as far as members of the public wishing to join is concerned, can be viewed at:
 
=========
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:13 PM
Subject: [Celtic Party] 5 great roads of ancient Ireland

++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Reply to recent request (from Dr Zion) for information regarding the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland.
 
"Intriguingly, Escir Riada and Sligh Dala are claimed to have been among the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland."
 
For further information, please see:
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
To find more general information relating to the above matters, please visit:
and
 
====================
 
New information will be added to the " Messages " sections of the above web sites on a regular basis.
 
To go DIRECTLY to the " Messages " sections of the MSN sites, please click:

http://groups.msn.com/NewInnAntiDump/messages.msnw
or
 
====================
 
Additional information and messages relating to the above environmental & heritage issues can also be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheCelticParty/
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#36 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Wed Feb 4, 2004 10:05 pm
Subject: Additional information on the "5 great roads of ancient Ireland" ... 		newinngalway
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Further information on the " 5 great roads of ancient Ireland "   >>>  following Dr Zion's recent request ...
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
A number of people who have very carefully examined the situation believe that the "5 great roads of ancient Ireland" were centred on Turoe (in County Galway), and NOT on Tara (in County Meath). 
 
The location of Turoe & Knocknadala (meaning "Hill of Parliament" in Celtic) shown on Ptolemy's map at the address immediately below, and indicated by the most southerly of the two locations marked "Regia", compares well with modern maps:
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/.Texts/Ptolemy/2/1*.html
 
A modern map (which has ZOOM facilities) of the Turoe / Knocknadala / Athenry area can be found at the following address:
 
Athenry (as in the song "Fields of Athenry") is referred to in Ptolemy's Greek record as "Auteinri" - meaning "Home of the Kings".  The use of a Greek word for an Irish placename should not surprise anybody too much because the Celts were a transnational race/group of peoples, and it seems likely they had numerous interactions with the ancient Greeks: which included an uninvited visit to Delphi in 278 B.C..  Many believe that the set of linear symbols which go all around the Turoe Stone (about two-thirds down from the top) are the result of Greek influence. 
 
A photograph of the Turoe Stone can be seen at:
 
Although more than 5 roads possibly converged on the Turoe / Knocknadala area, the "5 great roads" are thought to be those listed below.
 
Road 1:  Went in a south-easterly direction from Turoe/Knocknadala to what is now known as the town of Roscrea (in County Tipperary), and it was known as "Sli Dala" - which in the Celtic language means "Parliament Way". 
 
Road 2: The Esker Riada which ran from west to east right through the middle of Ireland from the eastern part of Galway Bay, through Turoe, and then on to Dublin.  It crossed the Shannon (Ireland's largest river) in the very centre of Ireland, close to Athlone.  Further to the east it passed through the Maynooth area - which is roughly 15 miles due south of the Hill of Tara.  More information on the Esker Riada can be found at:
 
Road 3:  "Rot na Ri" (meaning "Road of the Kings") went WSW from Turoe to "Ath Clee Magh Ri" - near Clarinbridge.  It is thought that this road may have been for the exclusive use of kings. 
 
Road 4:  Is known locally as "Sli Coolan", and it is believed to have been a royal avenue which encircled the Hill of Turoe.  Part of it ran through an area named "Fearta" (which is an old Celtic word for "royal cemetery"). 
 
Road 5:  The road named "Sli Luachra" went through Loughrea and County Clare, and ended in "Temhar Luachra"  - a Celtic "Fir Belg Capital"  five miles south of Limerick.
 
=========
 
Though some may be a little disappointed on first learning this, there is strong evidence - for those who study the facts - to suggest that much of Tara's Iron Age history (i.e. 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. roughly) has been "stolen" from Turoe.
 
The reason (very briefly) MIGHT be something like this: Although Niall of the Nine Hostages (of "St Patrick" fame) appears to have been treated as a royal prince, there is reason to believe he may have been illegitimate.  Consequently, he could not have expected to inherit very much if he stayed on in the Turoe area, and he possibly decided to go north to Ulster (sometime in 400's A.D.) - where he was very successful in acquiring both land and power, and without having to get involved in fights with his own family. 
 
Not only did the descendants of Niall keep the family dynasty going in Ulster, they gradually expanded their territory to the south so that they began to have a certain limited amount of control over the Hill of Tara area - which of course already had a fabulous and extremely prestigious history of its own going back to the Neolithic period (say 8,000 to 2,000 B.C. for Ireland).  They then started using the Hill of Tara as an inauguration site for their kings, and by way of some "icing on the cake" (all be it fraudulent), their "historians" transplanted the history of Turoe - which partly belonged to them anyway - onto the Hill of Tara. 
 
=========
 
Unfortunately, the first Millennium A.D. piece of historical trickery is now producing some unwanted consequences which members of the O'Neill Dynasty of the time might not have wished for:
 
a)  A major new road (the N6 Upgrade) is now scheduled to run right through the very heart of what's left of the Turoe/Knocknadala complex of ancient heritage sites.
 
b)  A government superdump is scheduled to be located about a mile or two from the Turoe Stone (in an area know as Cross).  Nicknamed locally as "The Mother of all Superdumps", the plan is to feed it from the new N6 Upgrade road mentioned above - which may, some suspect, mean that rubbish of all kinds will be brought into the area from all over Ireland. 
 
c)  A privately owned Greenstar/Celtic Waste "County Galway" rubbish dump, plus an incinerator possibly at a later date some think, is also planned for Kilconnell - which has an important Franciscan Friary dating from the 1300s that more or less sits on top of the Esker Riada, about 6 miles east of Turoe.  For further information, please see:
 
This particular Greenstar project also seems to destroy ALL hope of anybody ever wanting to restore the magnificent and historic set of buildings known locally as Woodlawn House - which is the ancestral home of the present Lord Ashtown.  Though several property developers have shown intense interest in restoring Woodlawn House during recent years, who in their right mind would want to live (hold their wedding reception, or play golf. etc., etc.) next door to a HUGE rubbish dump?  More information on Woodlawn House can be found at:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~williamfinnerty/wh/
 
d)  Additional information relating to efforts by a local group (now called the Turoe Celtic Society) can be seen at:
 
=========
 
Note 1:  Much of the above "5 roads" information comes from pages 49 to 61 of the July 2003 publication titled "Turoe and Athenry: Ancient Capitals of Celtic Ireland", which was written by Fr. Tom O’Connor and edited by Dr. Kieran Jordan.  This publication is a very heavily edited version of a much larger book called "Hand of History - Burden of Pseudo-History" - which is the result of 40 years of painstaking research carried out by Fr Tom O'Connor.
 
Dr Kieran Jordan's contact information can be found at:
http://www.turoeandathenry.com/BookOrders.htm
 
Note 2:  The above mentioned Greenstar/Celtic Waste rubbish-dump project was the subject of a petition to the European Parliament made on February 1st 2002.  The text of the petition can be seen at: 
 
The above mentioned N6 Upgrade project has also been the subject of a petition to the European Parliament on September 22nd 2003, the text of which can be seen at:
 
In spite of these two petitions to the European Parliament, the Republic of Ireland Government it is still going "full-steam-ahead" with both of the projects in question (to the very best of my knowledge).  In connection with these projects, there has been no consultation with the local civilian population of the kind mentioned in the Aarhus Convention agreement: which both the European Community and the Republic of Ireland "signed" (as "contracting parties") in 1998.  Further information can be found at:
 
Note 3: Though very little work has yet been done on the web site itself, an MSN "group" facility has been set up for people interested in trying to preserve Woodlawn House.  Sadly, and partly because of a large hole in one part of the roof which is being left unattended, some local people believe this very important heritage complex MIGHT already have passed the "point-of-no-return" (in terms of cost-effective restoration). The MSN web site facility, which is now fully functional as far members of the public wishing to join is concerned, can be viewed at:
 
=========
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:13 PM
Subject: [Celtic Party] 5 great roads of ancient Ireland

++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Reply to recent request (from Dr Zion) for information regarding the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland.
 
"Intriguingly, Escir Riada and Sligh Dala are claimed to have been among the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland."
 
For further information, please see:
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor

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#35 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Feb 3, 2004 8:13 pm
Subject: 5 great roads of ancient Ireland 		newinngalway
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++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Reply to recent request (from Dr Zion) for information regarding the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland.
 
"Intriguingly, Escir Riada and Sligh Dala are claimed to have been among the 5 great roads of ancient Ireland."
 
For further information, please see:
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++

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#34 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Feb 1, 2004 3:08 pm
Subject: Aarhus Convention & Irish Green Party's National Convention (March 12th 2004) 		newinngalway
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Dear Niall and Marian,
 
I'm not sure that I can be present at the Westwood Hotel meeting tomorrow evening.
 
However, I would like to let you (and Siobhan, Ciaran, and John) know that I would love to see the United Nations Aarhus Convention discussed at the National Convention on March 12th.  Perhaps one of you might try (on my behalf) to have it included for discussion if I cannot be there myself tomorrow?
 
It seems to me that the Aarhus Convention principles could, given the chance to EVER see daylight here in Ireland (before, that is, they are either forgotten about and/or neutralised by the new EU Constitution still in "draft" form), be used to great effect to protect the environment in a general sort of way: particularly at local community level. 
 
Ideally, I would like to see the Aarhus Convention be made into a BIG issue for June 2004 Elections here for county-councillors and MEPs.
 
It is still a complete mystery to me as to why there appears to be some kind of an ONGOING and widespread "conspiracy of silence" here in Ireland regarding the Aarhus Convention - particularly when it "entered into force on October 30th 2001"; and, as "contracting parties", was "signed" by both the Republic of Ireland and the European Community in 1998.
 
An environmentalist I know who is a lawyer (based in the United States) has recently looked through the text of the Aarhus Convention agreement which has been signed, and has expressed the view to me that it is a "good document".  The BIG question (back to me) from this person, which I would like to pass on to the Green Party of Ireland, is this: "Why hasn't Ireland ratified the Convention if it signed it?".   
 
Further "Aarhus Convention" questions raised by the person in question are: "What action, if any, is being taken (by Ireland) to ratify?" ; and, "Perhaps more important as a political issue, why is it that Ireland wants to or claims to be in step with European policy and developments when it hasn't ratified?".  Of course it is not just European policy (as I see it), there is also the important matter of the Republic of Ireland keeping in step with United Nations policy as well? 
 
Will the June 2004 Party Election Campaigns/Manifestos come and go in the Republic of Ireland without ANY mention of the issues in the two paragraphs immediately above I wonder?  If so, I (for one) will see it as a complete waste of time going to the polling-booth on June 12th. 
 
I have listed a few of the main facts concerning the Aarhus Convention at the top of the following page address:
 
Last but not least, I would like to point out the 'Warnings from the "Green-8" Group relating to new EU Constitution' : and that at least one of these warnings relates to a direct attempt to completely neutralise what I see as one of the CORE Aarhus Convention principles.  These warnings, which I hope might also be discussed in some way at the National Convention, can be seen at the following address: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheCelticParty/message/25 .   (One of these warnings comes from the German Green Party.)
 
Best wishes,
 
Billy Finnerty.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "Niall O Brolchain"
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 9:58 PM
Subject: Fw: Green Party meeting in Westwood
 
Extract from e-mail text:

"  ... We are urging you all to make an effort to come as we will be proposing and discussing possible motions for National Convention on 12th March and we need to get the resolutions in right away.  We need as much input as possible from members on what they see as serious issues for the Green Party ... "

++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

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#33 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Jan 27, 2004 8:32 pm
Subject: Fw: A ray of hope ? 		newinngalway
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Dear Julitta,
 
I'm informing a few people here and there about the possibility of an investigation (relating to corruption) into the activities of a company that is very largely owned by National Toll Roads. 
 
Please see below.
 
Regards,
 
Billy Finnerty.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 11:19 AM
Subject: A ray of hope ?

Jim and Fhiona,
 
As you are probably not aware of this, Celtic Waste (referred to in the e-mail below) suddenly and without explanation changed its name to Greenstar some months back.  They are largely owned by National Toll Roads - who are MAJOR players in both the roads planned for Turoe and Tara (as Public Private Partners, or PPPs). 
 
Let's all hope together.
 
Billy.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
 
----- Original Message -----

Dear Trevor,
 
I regret that it has taken me longer than I anticipated to get back to you regarding the matter in your e-mail below (dated January 8th 2004).
 
I have now discussed your kind offer of further help with Mr. Pauric Lohan, who, as you possibly already know, is the person the Celtic Waste representative offered the alleged €50,000 bribe to in the presence of two other witnesses in one of the meeting-rooms at Hayden's Hotel in Ballinasloe on July 5th 2002.
 
Pauric, who is Chairman of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group, has informed me that he would like to arrange a meeting with you: for the purpose of trying to have the whole matter of the bribery offer fully investigated in a proper manner under your guidance. 
 
Assuming you are happy to meet Pauric, it would be very much appreciated if you could contact him to make arrangements.  His home telephone number is Ballinasloe 090-96-86808, and his mobile phone number is 086-1737467.  My suggestion, and my hope, is that you meet up with him.
 
I would like to finish by saying that I have met and spoken with all three of the hotel room witnesses referred in paragraph 2 above (Pauric, his wife Marcella, and Mr Tom Finn who is a committee member of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group) on a number of occasions at various local anti-dump meetings during the past few years.  For what it's worth, there is no doubt at all in my mind that they are telling the truth regarding the bribe offer.  I further believe, again for what it's worth, that if court action ever became advisable or necessary, all three would make first class witnesses in a court of law.
 
Kind regards,
 
Billy Finnerty.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 4:36 PM
Subject: Article in Irish Times

Billy, a Chara,
 
I noted the article in the Irish Times over the Christmas period which referred to my efforts to get the bribery allegations in East Galway investigated.  I would be glad to take on board any further suggestions you have in this regard, but not being involved on a day to day basis requires that I be guided carefully to ensure that we are both effective and do not make unsubstantiated statements.
 
I await your advice and am at your service.
 
Le gach dea-ghui,
Trevor
 ____________________________________
TREVOR SARGENT T.D.,
Leader, Green Party/Comhaontas Glas

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#32 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:26 pm
Subject: Go away Julius - PLEASE, and don't come back again. 		newinngalway
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Dear Jim,
 
I has now looked fairly carefully through the three e-mails I recently received from you, and I would like to comment as follows:
 
1) I would have no difficulty at all in agreeing with you that despite his assassination in 45 B.C., Julius Caesar (and his imperialistic, tyrannical, violent, and wholly corrupt ways) do not appear to have been very far away from the centre of world politics during most of the period between then and now.  Not only that, I believe that the very bad political example he set still dominates world politics at the present time; and, that his type of obnoxious, bullying attitudes are at present providing the driving force for the present "big push" for such things as (for example) the location of a huge superdump close to the world famous Turoe Stone, and a motorway right through the middle of the Tara/Skreen Valley.  (Information on the Turoe Stone, in East Galway, can be found at http://homepage.tinet.ie/~williamfinnerty/protest/nov21_stone.htm , and, on the Tara/Skreen situation, in County Meath, at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taraskreen/ )
 
However, and although I am not a lawyer, I tend to think that the 40 States in Europe who signed the United Nations Aarhus Convention have (in effect, and as far as legal theory goes at least) to a very large extent now thrown Julius Caesar outside the doors of their various jurisdictions. This viewpoint is (I feel) very strongly supported by statements being made in public by EU Commissioner Margot Wallstrom that "Citizens will NOW be able to act as environmental watchdogs!" (in their own local communities). This particular quote is taken from the http://www.celticparty.com/ web site, and the full context can be seen at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheCelticParty/message/13  
 
I am copying this e-mail to Margot Wallstrom - so, perhaps she will let one or both of us know, FOR DEFINITE hopefully, whether or not any form of legally binding agreement/contract exists at the present time for Republic of Ireland public servants to support the Aarhus Convention social and environmental principles - in practical ways - in their day-to-day public-service activities. The text of the agreement signed certainly does use the word "contract" in at least one place as far as I can remember.
 
Unfortunately, and as we both well know, the many people who (knowingly or otherwise) tend to mimic Julius Caesar today (at all levels and in all areas of society), also have no qualms whatsoever about putting themselves above the law as and when it suits them - just as he did.  Consequently, and with regard to environmental and certain other issues, the "thinking" ways of Julius Caesar continue to run wild here in the Republic of Ireland: in spite of the very unambigious Margot Wallstrom quote in the 2nd paragraph up.  The only significant aspect of his behaviour which seems to be missing from here just now, and of course it is something to be VERY grateful for I feel, is the massive amounts of physical bloodletting and killing that he liked to indulge himself in. Even that aspect of his behaviour still exists on a much reduced scale here, and (not surprisingly) it appears to be growing again in the Republic of Ireland in a very worrying way during recent years.
 
2) The Supreme Court (Republic of Ireland) decided, in "Byrne v Ireland (1972)",  that "the State is a juristic person which can be sued for the wrongful acts of its public servants".  I personally feel that it is now time, and well past time, for a number of our present day public servants here in the Republic of Ireland to be legally challenged through the use of this legal precedent: in connection with certain aspects of their professional behaviour in public office.
 
More can be found on Byrne v Ireland (1972) in Section 2 of the e-mail dated December 21st 2001 (Saturnalia) to Margot Wallstrom - which has been re-produced at:
 
There is however a MAJOR practical snag relating to the present-day use of the above mentioned legal precedent.  When civilian citizens try to find the necessary professional legal help they need to carry out the kind of legal challenge I have in mind, they now find (as in the days of Caesar), and as I have personally found to date - over and over again during the past five years or so - that they are blocked (by insidious means) at EVERY point from doing so.  Consequently, many of the "Julius Caesar" types of sick (and sickening) social problems continue unabated here: all in the midst of much very carefully selected "huffing and puffing", and "spin", and "circus" in the mass-media - which is also of course very much in keeping with the ways of Julius Caesar & Company.  "Give them a bit to eat, and plenty of circus" was, if I remember correctly, a core (and highly effective) rule-of thump used by the rulers of ancient Rome for keeping control over the many "civilians" they arrogantly and disrespectfully excluded from their elitist cliques.
 
Some of the details of my personal efforts at trying to find the necessary legal help I require for the job in question can be viewed in the e-mail dated June 21st 2003 to the Secretary General of the European Communities at the address immediately below.  Please note that I not have received ANY reply to date (from ANY of the people the e-mail was sent to).
 
A few examples of the kinds of things I believe certain senior Republic of Ireland politicians FULLY DESERVE to be challenged on now (in a court of law, or something very similar such as a Public Inquiry or Tribunal of some sort), can be found at the two addresses provided below under a) and b):
 
a) Knowingly (I strongly suspect) producing spurious law which is in breach of the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland, and continuing to act forcefully on it as though it was valid law - despite numerous requests over a period of years to have it checked (which, to date, have all been completely ignored):
 
b) Failing to deal responsibly with serious bribery allegations concerning a very profitable rubbish-disposal company now called Greenstar, which is almost entirely owned by the much larger PPP (Private Public Partnership) company called National Toll Roads.  Please see:
 
I genuinely believe that a few criminal convictions involving senior politicians here in the Republic of Ireland (in connection with matters such as those mentioned above) - for offences such as "neglect of duty" and "dereliction of duty", for example, might, in combination with the copious application of Aarhus Convention principles, do wonders (possibly?) to set in motion the final decommissioning of the long lingering "political" spirit of Julius Caesar - and all of the closely associated human misery which so much of our world has been plagued with throughout the past 2,000 years or so? 
 
3) At the present time, I am unable to provide you with answers to the three legal queries you raise in paragraph 6 of your e-mail to me (dated January 21st 2003, 2.54 PM).
 
However, I have a friend and neighbour who's daughter is a law student at nearby Galway University.  I understand that she returns to college next week, and I believe it is possible that she may, given the right amount of time, be able to provide good quality answers for you to these 3 technical legal questions you have asked me about.  Better still, she MIGHT be willing to give you her e-mail address, and if this is the case you may wish to communicate with her directly.
 
Finally, I will (as you have requested) gladly add your name and e-mail address to the Turoe Celtic Society list.  Their web site address is: http://www.turoeandathenry.com 
 
Best Wishes,
 
Billy.
 
PS: I am also copying this e-mail to Fhiona.  With sad thoughts of the final fate of Vercingetorix in my mind, I hope she will forward it to as many Celtic web sites and contacts around the world as she can.  Also, and as it now seems to me that we are in a "10 minutes to midnight"  type of situation regarding the still intact (but soon to be destroyed) heritage sites in the Tara/Skreen Valley, I hope she will do so as soon as she reasonably can.
 

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#31 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:05 am
Subject: Message not approved: GONGOs (Interview with former Irish president Mary Robinson) 		newinngalway
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Vincent,
 
Thanks for letting me know that my two "GONGO" messages to the Tara/Skreen Group were not approved, and consequently not circulated.
 
While I fully respect your personal belief that my message is "simply irrelevant" to the Tara discussion, I am far from convinced that everyone would share your view on this particular subject.
 
Also, I feel that by doing other group-members' thinking for them (regarding what is relevant and what is not) you might - might you not? - be falling into the exact same trap that is at the very root of the whole pitiful set of NATIONAL heritage & environmental problems in question (of which the Tara/Skreen situation is just ONE example):  i.e. central Government doing everybody's thinking for them (while at the same time arrogantly and stupidly refusing to listen to large sections of the civilian population which voted them into power at the last election).
 
Also, has The Irish Times (for example) ever written anything about the Aarhus Convention principles?  And if not, why not? 
 
Have any of the political "opposition" parties in the Republic of Ireland ever spoken in public, or challenged (in ANY way) the Government (AND/OR the Judiciary) regarding the manner in which they appear to be COMPLETELY ignoring the United Nations Aarhus Convention - which has been SIGNED by over 40 countries (including the Republic of Ireland, and the European Community).  Further information on the Aarhus Convention can be found at:
 
According to the book titled "Principles of Irish Law" (page 11) by Brian Doolan, an important Constitutional principle states: "The doctrine of the separation of powers advocates the distribution of the powers among different institutions of the State (legislative, executive, and judicial)".  As in many other areas, I do not see much "separation" between the Government and the Judiciary regarding the Aarhus Convention - with both of them acting as though they never even heard of it - and completely ignoring it (possibly unlawfully?) - in so far as I can judge.
 
Will there be any mention of the Aarhus Convention I wonder in the Republic of Ireland party election manifestos for the June 2004 local government and MEP (Member of the European Parliament) elections?
 
Despite the above, and the fact that I obviously believe you may have taken a wrong turning recently, I wish you to know that I continue to greatly appreciate your ongoing efforts nonetheless.
 
Best wishes,
 
Billy.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "uatuathal" <uatuathal@...>
To: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 8:47 PM
Subject: Message not approved: GONGOs (Interview with former Irish president Mary Robinson)

Sorry Will.  This message is simply irrelevant to Tara discussions, and people have been complaining about the volume and quality of mail on the list.
 
Thanks
 
Vincent
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 7:12 PM
Subject: GONGOs (Interview with former Irish president Mary Robinson)
 
GONGO
(Government Organised Non-Government Organisation):
 
' Also, of course, as well as NGOs (Non Government Organisations) there are false non-governmental organisations, that are in fact Government Organised NGOs or GONGOs. Various developing countries are now breeding GONGOs which are a corrupt way of saying we have freedom in our country: “Look at all the NGOs, look at all the newspapers”, when actually they are controlled by the government which has packed its GONGOs with tame acolytes and controls the funding. '
 
      ... Mary Robinson (Former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)
 
CAUTION: Rumours in circulation that Fine Gael, the Labour Party, etc.,  plus Bord Pleanala, the Judiciary, the mass-media and so on, are all GONGOs might not be true.
 
The full text of Mary Robinson's interview (December 12th 2003) can be seen at the address below.
 
The "Various developing countries are now breeding GONGOs ..." text appears a little over half way down.
 

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#30 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Jan 18, 2004 7:15 pm
Subject: GONGOs (Interview with former Irish president Mary Robinson) 		newinngalway
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GONGO
(Government Organised Non-Government Organisation):
 
' Also, of course, as well as NGOs (Non Government Organisations) there are false non-governmental organisations, that are in fact Government Organised NGOs or GONGOs. Various developing countries are now breeding GONGOs which are a corrupt way of saying we have freedom in our country: “Look at all the NGOs, look at all the newspapers”, when actually they are controlled by the government which has packed its GONGOs with tame acolytes and controls the funding. '
 
      ... Mary Robinson (Former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)
 
CAUTION: Rumours in circulation that Fine Gael, the Labour Party, etc.,  plus Bord Pleanala, the Judiciary, the mass-media and so on, are all GONGOs might not be true.
 
The full text of Mary Robinson's interview (December 12th 2003) can be seen at the address below.
 
The "Various developing countries are now breeding GONGOs ..." text appears a little over half way down.

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#29 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sat Jan 17, 2004 1:03 pm
Subject: New Inn & Kilconnell Public Inquiry/Tribunal possibilities (regarding planned superdumps)? 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
To: "Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group Secretary" <kilconnellantidumpsecretary@...>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:30 PM
Subject: Public Inquiry/Tribunal possibilities (suggestions from Green Party member Ciaran Mac Lochlainn)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
The Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group may wish to give some thought to the ideas expressed below by Ciaran Mac Lochlainn (East Galway Green Party election
 organiser)?
 
I cannot answer the final question raised below.
 
wfinnerty@...
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ciaran Mac Lochlainn" <ciaran17@...>
To: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Cc: <Trevor.Sargent@...>; "Patricia McKenna MEP" <mckennap@...>; "John Gormley T.D." <johngormley@...>; "John
Porter" <aneitleoirglas@...>; "Siobhan Nevin" <siobhannevin@...>
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: New Inn / Kilconnell (East Galway) environmental problems >>>
Re: Article in Irish Times
 
 
Would it be helpful/useful to call for some kind of public inquiry?
 
How much evidence of wrongdoing is needed before a tribunal can be set up (i.e. before it is necessary politically or legally)?
 
Just as important, what do the local community think is the best way forward now?
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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#28 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sat Jan 17, 2004 11:59 am
Subject: Offer of further help from Deputy Trevor Sargent T.D. (regarding Kilconnell bribery issue) 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:11 PM
Subject: Offer of further help from Trevor Sargent (regarding bribery issue)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
There is an offer of help from the Green Party leader Trevor Sargent T.D. in the e-mail below (at the very bottom) which was sent to me on Thursday, January 08, 2004 4:36 PM.
 
I'm not sure if the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group wishes to take up this offer?
 
Please let me know.
 
wfinnerty@...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 3:33 PM
Subject: Fw: New Inn / Kilconnell (East Galway) environmental problems >>> Re: Article in Irish Times

Dear Tommy,
 
I sent an e-mail yesterday to some Green Party members which I feel you should be aware of.  Please find a copy below.
 
In case that I might have accidentally got anything wrong regarding your recycling plan, please note that I made NO DIRECT MENTION at all of you, or of any of the recycling companies referred to in the papers Brendan gave me a few days ago.
 
If there is anything relating to your business in the e-mail below which you are unhappy about, please do not hesitate to let me know. 
 
Best regards,
 
Billy Finnerty.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
 
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 1:47 PM
Subject: New Inn / Kilconnell (East Galway) environmental problems >>> Re: Article in Irish Times

Dear Trevor,

Thank you very much for your offer of further help.

Not surprisingly perhaps, things went relatively quiet here in East Galway during the Christmas period regarding our local environmental difficulties.

However, I have been informed of two local community meetings which are planned for this coming week - the first on Monday January 12th, and the second on Wednesday the 14th.

I intend to contact you again in about one week from now regarding the bribery allegations.  Hopefully, I will by then be in a better position to make some suggestions regarding the possibility of effective co-operation between yourself and one or more members of the local community (myself included).

Unfortunately, bribery is only part of the overall problem (as I see it): all be it a VERY important part.

In the meantime, you may wish to give some thought to other aspects of the general problem (as I perceive them) - which I have attempted to set out in the group of 4 e-mails reproduced on the following page:
http://www.finnachta.com/Kilconnell8Dec2003.htm

It may help you to know that, in total, I have received three replies (from politicians) to the e-mails on the above page - all of which are helpful in their own way, but none of which offer any real, straightforward prospect of actually solving one or more of the practical problems in question.  (The "political" replies I have received are from Minister Eamon O' Cuiv T.D, Deputy P. McCormack T.D., and Councillor J. Conneely).

It may also be worth relating to you that I was handed some papers a few days ago which strongly suggest that Galway County Council was offered a state-of-the-art recycling-plant service in 2001 by an international consortium of three reputable and long established companies (one of which is local), and which would, I believe, have solved ALL of County Galway's waste management problems in a very elegant manner: and without the use of superdumps, or incinerators.

Apparently, Galway County Council has never given any good reason to those concerned for completely turning down what appears to me to have been a truly wonderful opportunity for dealing with County Galway's waste disposal problems in a highly responsible and socially benign way.

Recent enquiries I have made suggest that the above mentioned sevice offer is STILL there for the taking (from the three-company consortium concerned).

As the environmental difficulties we are at present battling with here in the New Inn / Kilconnell area of East Galway appear to me to be so deep and difficult, I am copying this e-mail to a few of your colleagues - in the belief that the more "environment-friendly" minds which apply themselves to the problem, the better chance there is that we might collectively find a satisfactory solution. (I hope you will not mind me doing this.)

Sincerely,

Billy (Finnerty).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

----- Original Message -----
From: <Trevor.Sargent@...>
To: <wfinnerty@...>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 4:36 PM
Subject: Article in Irish Times

Billy, a Chara,

I noted the article inthe Irish Times over the Christmas period which referred to my efforts to get the bribery allegations in East Galway investigated. I would be glad to take on board any further suggestions you have in this regard, but not being involved on a day to day basis requires that I be guided carefully to ensure that we are both effective and do not make unsubstantiated statements.

I await your advice and am at your service.

Le gach dea-ghui,
Trevor
 ____________________________________
TREVOR SARGENT T.D.,
Leader, Green Party/Comhaontas Glas

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#27 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:18 am
Subject: msn.com/KilconnellAntiDump/homepage 		newinngalway
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Dear Annette,
 
I hope you will not have any difficulty gaining access to the new Yahoo e-mail address I gave you last night for the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group Secretary.  If you do, please let me know. 
 
As I mentioned to you, the arrangements I have been using to date - i.e. taking papers around by hand to Committee members (such as Gerry Hoban, Gerry Melody, and Padraic Lohan) are proving very inefficient from my viewpoint; and, among other things, I'm growing more and more conscious of the fact that the people concerned cannot make any direct use at all of the "Internet links", such as those provided below for example, from the "dead" pieces of paper I have been giving to them by hand.
 
Following our brief discussion at the end of last night's meeting in Kilconnell, I feel it may also be useful for you to know about an MSN "Group" web site address I booked some weeks ago - with the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group in mind.
 
As is mentioned in the e-mail copied below to Vincent Costello (Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 8:18 AM), I also booked one for the New Inn Anti-Dump Group, and the addresses of both can be found further down the text of this e-mail.
 
As you may already know, MSN (owned by Bill Gates, the world's richest person I understand!!) and Yahoo seem to be the two world leaders - as well as each other's main competitors - in this important and growing area of Internet communications.  These "group sites" are particularly well suited (in my view) for making contact with people from our local communities who are at present living in other parts of the world, and who would like to "keep-up" (and possibly help out) with the worrying developments regarding the Kilconnell and New Inn superdump issues.
 
As I see it though, the effectiveness of these "Group" web sites is HIGHLY dependant on the efforts the group themselves put in to get members to join them.
 
At the present time, and for the foreseeable future (I suspect), MSN and Yahoo do not charge the users anything for the use of these sites: which to a very large extent run themselves automatically (under computer control) once the initial set-up procedure has been initiated.  Instead, MSN and Yahoo seem to be using advertising to cover their costs - something which (in time) could be used to promote local businesses of course.
 
The Internet addresses of the two Anti-Dump sites referred to above are:
http://groups.msn.com/KilconnellAntiDump/homepage.msnw

 
You may wish to note also that in the "Visitor Tools" area of the above sites there are facilities for EVERYBODY to invite others to join. Please see:
 
 
 
Finally, I feel I should stress that there is nothing whatsoever for the Kilconnell and New Inn Anti-dump Groups to start "group sites" other than the ones I have booked above - either at MSN or at Yahoo.  They would need to use slightly different addresses though - as the ones used above are now "gone".
 
Sincerely,
 
Billy (Finnerty).
 
PS: Should you wish to see an example of one "Group" web site (of the kind referred to above) which is at present, and at a time when all the Courts, Bord Pleanala, the EPA, NGO's, etc., etc., have ALL failed them, in the process of mounting a HUGE battle against the environmental/heritage type threats which are now getting EXTREMELY "close to the door" near the Hill of Tara (County Meath), please visit:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taraskreen/   The Internet now seems to be the ONLY hope these people have of preventing dozens, or possibly hundreds (or even thousands) of priceless Irish heritage sites from being destroyed forever. 
 
Also, and in an effort to help things along for the growing number of people who now visit Internet cafes (public libraries, schools, universities, etc.) to use the Internet, I have recently placed links to the MSN and YAHOO "E-mail" and "Group" services in a prominent place at one of my own web sites.  If interested, please click on the link immediately below:
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 8:18 AM
Subject: New Inn Anti-Superdump Meeting (January 12th 2004, Wards, Ballyfa).

Brendan,
 
As the Tommy Roche handout given around last night contains your web site address (on page 3), I have made a few quick changes to your front page this morning.
 
Though I did not mention it at last night's meeting, and I can't even remember if told you or not, I did actually book some MSN "Group" web site addresses a few weeks back - for possible use (if they wish) by the New Inn and Kilconnell Anti-Superdump Groups. 
 
I have now added in the two links (for New Inn and Kilconnell Groups) to your Front Page.
 
So far I have done very little work on the two new MSN sites.  However, the "Message" sections of both contain information which should (I hope) help people who wish to try and "get up to speed" quickly regarding the overall set of very serious environmental and social problems we now have in and around the New Inn and Kilconnell areas.
 
The above mentioned changes can now be seen at:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~kellybrendan/index.html
 
Regards,
 
Billy.
 
PS: I noticed this morning that some of the pages on your web site are at present being listed by Google.  Please see:

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#26 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:59 am
Subject: "The special privilege boys ..." 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Are the special privilege boys going to run the country, or are the people going to run it?”

Information at the US election campaign page address below may contain important clues as to why the people of Ireland are having such a difficult time trying to protect their heritage sites?

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=commonsense

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#25 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Jan 4, 2004 8:05 pm
Subject: Warnings from "Green-8" Group relating to new EU Constitution 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++++

"However, the EEB objects to the introduction of the idea of a "qualified entity". This term is not found in the Aarhus Convention and could be used as disguised barrier to citizen’s exercise of the rights to access to justice which the Convention was intended to provide. The proposal defines a "qualified entity" as "any association, organisation or group, which has the objective to protect the environment" and meets a set of criteria set out in the both proposed Directive and Regulation. Among the criteria are formal legal existence for a minimum number of years. These criteria could operate to exclude new groups or ad hoc coalitions which form to respond to a particular problem or groups with a non-environmental purpose, such as neighbourhood organisations."

Full text at:
http://www.eeb.org/press/press_release_Aarhus_package_28_10_03.htm

+++++++++++++++++++++++

"We were shocked to see a definition of sustainable development which is only based on social and economic considerations, and doesn't even mention the environment," the 'Green-8' said. "We hope that this was an unintentional mistake which will be corrected immediately."

"For a majority of EU citizens, the EU's political initiatives in the field of environment are one of the best reasons to support European integration. A European Constitution that ignores the importance of environmental protection will not find public support, and we believe it would not deserve it," warned the 8 organisations."

Full text:
http://www.gruene-partei.de/rsvgn/rs_dok/0,,21110,00.htm

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Also,

Section 5, CHAPTER III, PART III (titled "Environment") seems to make no direct mention at all to the Aarhus Convention.  Please see:
http://europa.eu.int/futurum/constitution/part3/title3/chapter3/section5/index_en.htm

And, in addition:

Section 3, CHAPTER V, PART III (titled "Culture") seems to make no direct reference at all to the protection of heritage sites such as (for example) those which are at present under VERY serious threat because of planned road projects in the Tara (County Meath) and Turoe (County Galway) areas. The archaeological landscape in the Turoe area is also under severe threat at the present time from a planned "Superdump for Connacht" project which, given the chance, could become the "Mother of all Superdumps".  Please see:
http://europa.eu.int/futurum/constitution/part3/title3/chapter5/section3/index_en.htm

+++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.celticparty.com

 


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#24 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:56 pm
Subject: Law Library (Hill of Tara) 		newinngalway
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Vincent,
 
The legal environmental information contained in the Electronic Library list looks like a great idea to me, but, I think some people may have technical problems finding it (and making use of it) in the "file" format it is in at present?
 
As this MIGHT be the case, I have copied your list (into HTML format) to the following Internet page - which some may find easier to use:
http://www.finnachta.com/Hill_of_Tara_Electronic_Law_Library_.htm
 
Thanks for all your efforts - which are much appreciated.
 
Best Wishes for 2004,
 
Billy (Finnerty).
 
PS: If for any reason you are unhappy about I copying your information to the above page, just let me know and I will remove it.
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#23 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:52 am
Subject: Is there anything can be done? (Reply to query from Tara / Skreen Group member) 		newinngalway
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To Brian (and others who may be interested):
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
EU citizens, plus certain other categories of people, can now petition the European Parliament  DIRECTLY  regarding environmental issues - including those relating to archaeological heritage: e.g. the problems and concerns connected with the planned motorway at present scheduled to run right through the middle of the Tara / Skreen Valley.
 
The necessary information for petitioning the European Parliament directly can be found at:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/petition/help_en.htm
 
It is also possible now to  DIRECTLY contact EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom.  All of her contact information appears on her EU web site at page address:
 
Unlike just about  EVERYBODY  else, and at a time when it appears to be the case that Irish politicians will not (or cannot?) listen properly to those who put them into power, it may be useful to know that Commissioner Wallstrom has all the necessary legal powers to take ANY Member State (including the Republic of Ireland) before the European Court of Justice in connection with matters relating to archaeological heritage:
"Article 226 of the Treaty gives the Commission powers to take legal action against a Member State that is not respecting its obligations." 
For further information, please see:
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
EU Directive 97/11/EC  

ANNEX IV (Item 3):  "A description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the proposed project, including, in particular, POPULATION, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, including the architectural and  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  HERITAGE,  landscape and the inter-relationship between the above factors."

To see the full text of EU Directive 97/11/EC please go to:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/eia/full-legal-text/9711.htm

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#22 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Sun Dec 21, 2003 2:45 pm
Subject: MEDIA INFORMATION: "No" to bribery, corruption, intimidation, bullying, and gangsterism ... 		newinngalway
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Dear Media Organisations,
 
In circumstances where the Republic of Ireland authorities appear to be very reluctant (and very slow) to investigate the National Toll Roads bribery issues thoroughly, local efforts are being made to keep EU Environment Commissioner Ms Margot Wallstrom informed regarding the growing difficulties local residents in parts of East Galway (Ireland) are being burdened with.
 
Among others, twenty-seven Galway County Councillors, nine County Galway Members of Parliament (T.D.s), and three Connacht / Ulster MEPs are also being kept informed. (For detailed information please follow the "Kilconnell8Dec2003.htm" Internet link provided in the e-mail copied below, which was sent on Friday, December 19, 2003 5:12 PM.)
 
"Very sinister":  this is how Police Superintend Paul Hargadon (Ballinasloe) described a device which looked like a bomb, and which was found outside the front door of a house on the outskirts of Kilconnell village early last Tuesday morning.  (A number of young children live in the home in question.)
 
This "elaborate hoax" is just the latest in a long string of intimidating actions to have been applied locally in recent years: the first of which members of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump group reported to the police in January 2002 - according to a report in yesterday's Irish Times Newspaper. 
 
The possibility of making HUGE profits (at the expense of local people) from the type of superdumps being planned for Kilconnell & New Inn, possibly as much as €1,000,000 per day, is believed to lay at the root of this ongoing social and environmental problem. 
 
Local people have NEVER been consulted as to whether they wanted either of these two rubbish dumps or not; and, their democratically elected local government representatives have (in effect) had all of their power taken from them regarding the matter: by central government. 
 
In the atmosphere of growing social tension following this latest "bomb" incident, many in the New Inn and Kilconnell areas are now wondering: " What next? ".
 
Sincerely,
 
William Finnerty
 
Celtic Party organiser
 
SATURNALIA (Year 2003)
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 5:12 PM
Subject: [Celtic Party] "No" to bribery and corruption ...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Efforts are being made to make the EU Environment Commissioner (Ms Margot Wallstrom) more aware of the practical environmental difficulties people in East Galway (Ireland) are having to struggle with at the present time. 
 
These difficulties include a hoax bomb left outside the door of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group Chairman last Tuesday morning (which the police had to deal with) - as reported on the front page of this week's Tuam Herald Newspaper.
 
Unlike others, Ms Wallstrom has the power to legally challenge the Republic of Ireland Government in the European Court of Justice: if she sees fit, and if she chooses to do so.
 
For further information on some of the material Margot Wallstrom has recently been sent please see:
 
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
TheCelticParty-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheCelticParty/
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

An associated "SATURNALIA" article written two years ago can be seen at:
 
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#21 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:12 pm
Subject: "No" to bribery and corruption ... 		newinngalway
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Efforts are being made to make the EU Environment Commissioner (Ms Margot Wallstrom) more aware of the practical environmental difficulties people in East Galway (Ireland) are having to struggle with at the present time. 
 
These difficulties include a hoax bomb left outside the door of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group Chairman last Tuesday morning (which the police had to deal with) - as reported on the front page of this week's Tuam Herald Newspaper.
 
Unlike others, Ms Wallstrom has the power to legally challenge the Republic of Ireland in the European Court of Justice: if she sees fit, and if chooses to do so.
 
For further information on some of the material Margot Wallstrom has recently been sent please see:
 
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#20 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Wed Dec 17, 2003 4:48 pm
Subject: Bribery, Article 28A (Republic of Ireland Constitution), & the EU Aarhus Convention. 		newinngalway
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Dear Galway TDs and Connacht MEPs,
 
I would like you all to please note that in the objection (copied below) which I sent the day before yesterday to the Environment Protection Agency regarding the planned rubbish dump for Kilconnell, I pointed out two separate cases of BRIBERY involving National Toll Roads.
 
As far as I know, the Government is still allowing National Toll Roads to get away unchallenged regarding BOTH of those bribery matters: which does not seem right to me.  By failing completely to challenge National Toll Roads regarding their bribery activities, it appears to me that the Government is making a very powerful public statement to the effect that: "Bribery and corruption is okay as far as we are concerned".
 
I have a particular interest in this bribery business because National Toll Roads are (as I see it) very heavily involved in both of the planned rubbish dumps (for New Inn and Kilconnell) which are now scheduled to be located close to my home.  I believe they almost completely own Greenstar (who have been given permission for the Kilconnell dump by Galway County Council), and they are also major participants I understand in the PPP scheme associated with the planned N6 Upgrade designed to feed the Government superdump scheduled for location at Cross (in the New Inn area). 
 
Also, and for the reasons already given to the three East Galway TDs listed in the e-mail below (Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 2:11 PM),  I believe that the part of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 which removes all power from local politicians regarding the location of large rubbish dumps in the communities they represent is COMPLETELY in breach of both Article 28A of our Constitution, and the EU Aarhus Convention principles which Ms Margot Wallstrom (EU Commissioner) has been making public statements about for some considerable time now. 
 
Consequently, I further believe that Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 is not worth the paper it is written on: as far VALID law is concerned. The only proper way to decide this now (that I can guess at) is for the Supreme Court to have good look at the whole situation: which is what I believe President Mary McAleese should have asked them to do in the first place - BEFORE she signed the papers which allowed the Bill in question to ever become the "spurious / bastard law" that it is (in my opinion); and, which Galway County Council, and others, continue to treat as legitimate law. The fact that President McAleese is herself a lawyer, and would know all of this far better than most other people, makes this whole ongoing situation entirely outrageous (in my view).
 
It would be very much appreciated if you would all carefully consider the contents of this e-mail please, and help out with whatever is needed in the way of corrective action. 
 
Your sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
 
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 4:36 PM
Subject: RE: Article 28A (Republic of Ireland Constitution), & the Aarhus Convention.

Dear Mr Finnerty,
 
Your correspondence of 15 Dec has been forwarded to the relevant person/office for attention.

Thank you and regards,
AnnR ochford
Environmental Protection Agency,
Headquarters,
An Ghniomhaireacht um Chaomhnu Comhshaoil
P.O. Box3 000,
Johnstown Castle Estate,
Co. Wexford, Ireland.
Tel:  00353 53 60600
Fax: 00353 53 60699
email: info@...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
-----Original Message-----
From: William Finnerty [mailto:wfinnerty@...]
Sent: 15 December 2003 16:29
To: Environment Protection Agency
Cc: Margot Wallstrom (European Union Environment Commissioner); William Finnerty (Yahoo); AA2 Self (Hotmail); AA1 Self (Eircom); FriendsOfTheIrishEnvironment(Admin); Friends of the Irish Environment (Tony Lowes); Heritage Council (Ireland); An Taisce; VOICE of Irish Concern for the Environment; Bord Pleanala
Subject: Article 28A (Republic of Ireland Constitution), & the Aarhus Convention.

To: Environment Protection Agency
Re: Objection to Greenstar (Celtic Waste) / National Toll Roads rubbish-dump at Kilconnell, County Galway.
EPA reference: 178-1
 
Dear Environment Protection Agency,
 
I wish to object to Greenstar (Celtic Waste) / National Toll Roads being given an EPA licence for a rubbish dump at Kilconnell, County Galway.
 
For the reasons stated in my e-mail below (sent on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 2:11 PM) to the four East Galway politicians, I believe that the "Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001" is in breach of Article 28A of the written Constitution of the Republic of Ireland.  Consequently, I further believe that the decision by unelected Galway County Council managers to grant permission to Greenstar for this dump - which COMPLETELY excluded the opposing views and wishes of all the locally elected county councillors in Galway - is not legally valid: by virtue of the fact that this decision depends entirely (for its authority) on Waste Management Amendment Act 2001 being legally valid.
 
I am also aware of two separate allegations of bribery connected with National Toll Roads (which very largely owns Greenstar, I believe).  One involves Mr P. Lohan, the Chairman of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Committee (who I believe was offered €50,000 to resign from his job as Chairman); and, the other involves the Flood Tribunal - which I understand found that National Toll Roads bribed a Mr. George Redmond some years ago.
 
I have already brought the matter of the €50,000 bribe to the attention of Prime Minister Ahern, and requested an investigation into the matter.  Please see:
http://www.finnachta.com/CorruptionInvestigationRequest.htm  (I assume Prime Minister Ahern does not need me to inform him about the National Toll Roads bribe to Mr. Redmond: which I gather has been recorded in the Flood Tribunal report.)
 
Finally, I wish to state that I believe it was COMPLETELY in breach of the EU Aarhus Convention principles to totally exclude local people, and local politicians, from the decision-making process which resulted in Galway County Council managers recently granting permission to Greenstar to locate their rubbish dump in Kilconnell.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty.
 
(Address information can be found below.)
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 8:44 PM
Subject: [Tara/Skreen] Article 28A (Republic of Ireland Constitution), & the Aarhus Convention.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
 
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 12:01 PM
Subject: Fw: Article 28A of Irish Constitution, & the Aarhus Convention.

Dear Galway County Councillors,
 
Following last Monday's sudden announcement that New Inn (where my home is located) has yet AGAIN become the prime target for a HUGE rubbish dump (possibly a SUPERDUMP for the whole of Connacht), it would be much appreciated if you could all please give some consideration to the requests I made below to Deputy Joe Callanan T.D.,  Deputy Paul Connaughton T.D.,  Deputy Paddy McHugh T.D. and Galway County Councillor Michael Mullins at the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Meeting last Monday evening (i.e. December 8th 2003).
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty.
 
PS: The list of e-mail addresses I have used above for Galway County Councillors, which I assume is complete and up-to-date, has come from the Internet address immediately below:
http://www.galway.ie/councill/meet_councillors.asp
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 2:11 PM
Subject: Article 28A of Irish Constitution, & the Aarhus Convention.

 
Dear Deputy Callanan T.D.,  Deputy Connaughton T.D.,  Deputy McHugh T.D.,  and Councillor Mullins,
 
As I mentioned to all four of you at the end of last night's Anti-Dump Meeting in Kilconnell, I have long believed that Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 is in breach of Article 28A of the written Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. This is because of the fact that it completely removes all power from the democratically elected local government politicians regarding important local community matters connected with the location of huge rubbish dumps (e.g. those now planned for Kilconnell and New Inn), and instead places it entirely in the hands of UNELECTED County Council managers.
 
The content of Article 28A (Item 1) of our written Constitution reads as follows: "The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities."
 
In view of the sudden shock announcement yesterday that New Inn is now the number 1 target for a superdump for Connacht, and as you all stated in public at last night's meeting  that you would be willing to help in any way you could, I would be very grateful if you (and ALL of your political colleagues in local and central government) would now ask to have the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 reviewed please.
 
With regard to the above request, I am very conscious of the fact that where there is doubt regarding the introduction of a new law, President Mary McAleese (the present guardian of our written Constitution) has at her disposal the very easy option of referring to the Supreme Court for guidance; and, that although former Justice Minister Nora Owen (who was a T.D. at the time) asked in Parliament to have the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 checked by the Supreme Court, President McAleese did not do so: for reasons which continue to be a VERY disturbing and growing source of mystery and suspicion for me. 
 
I would also like to know where Irish politicians stand in regard to the very closely related matter of the Aarhus Convention?  To date, it seems to me that ALL Irish politicians, and ALL of the Irish "mass-media" organisations, are acting as though they never even heard of the Aarhus Convention: even though people like EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom have been making public statements about this EXTREMELY important set of social and environmental principles for some considerable time now? 
 
General information regarding the Aarhus Convention can be found at:
http://www.finnachta.com/TheAarhusConvention.htm
 
In the most recent public statement I have seen attributed to Ms Wallstrom on the Aarhus Convention, I find it very interesting that she has used the word "now" in the following sentence: "Citizens will NOW be able to act as environmental watchdogs!"  The full context of Ms Wallstrom's sentence can be seen at:
http://www.celticparty.com  
 
How, I wonder, can we function effectively as environmental watchdogs if the democratically elected politicians we vote for have all their relevant power and authority removed by laws such as Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001?   
 
I look forward to hearing from you regarding the above two matters (i.e. Article 28A and the Aarhus Convention):  both of which I see as being COMPLETELY above party politics.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty.
 
Postal address:
"St Albans"
New Inn
Ballinasloe
County Galway.
 
PS: For future reference, I intend to place a copy of this e-mail at the following Internet location later today:
 
Also, the problem with Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 has already been brought to the attention of the European Parliament.  Please see:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kellybrendan/petition1/feb-1-2002.htm
 
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service working around the clock, around the globe, visit
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#19 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Tue Dec 16, 2003 10:03 am
Subject: EPA - no "hide-and-seek" games!! 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++
 
Some may be intereseted to know that an objection sent yesterday to the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) regarding a planned rubbish dump met with a very quick (and straightforward) acknowledgement of receipt. 
 
It seems the EPA has no interest in playing "hide-and-seek" with the problems they are informed about - which makes for a refreshing change (I find). 
 
With many other such agencies in Ireland, it appears to me that ALL energy immediately goes into thinking "how do we best pretend we never heard anything about this particular problem, and consequently KNOW NOTHING about it" -  the moment they are informed about something they don't like the sound of: and quite regardless of the truth and/or the seriousness of the matter they are being informed about. 
 
Yesterday's objection, and the EPA response to it, can both now be seen at:
 
Other such organisations could learn usefully (in my view) from the above mentioned EPA response; and, were they to do so, both the number and the seriousness of the environmental problems we have here in Ireland might greatly reduce?
 
+++++++++++++++++++

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#18 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:44 pm
Subject: Article 28A (Republic of Ireland Constitution), & the Aarhus Convention. 		newinngalway
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----- Original Message -----
 
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 12:01 PM
Subject: Fw: Article 28A of Irish Constitution, & the Aarhus Convention.

Dear Galway County Councillors,
 
Following last Monday's sudden announcement that New Inn (where my home is located) has yet AGAIN become the prime target for a HUGE rubbish dump (possibly a SUPERDUMP for the whole of Connacht), it would be much appreciated if you could all please give some consideration to the requests I made below to Deputy Joe Callanan T.D.,  Deputy Paul Connaughton T.D.,  Deputy Paddy McHugh T.D. and Galway County Councillor Michael Mullins at the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Meeting last Monday evening (i.e. December 8th 2003).
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty.
 
PS: The list of e-mail addresses I have used above for Galway County Councillors, which I assume is complete and up-to-date, has come from the Internet address immediately below:
http://www.galway.ie/councill/meet_councillors.asp
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 2:11 PM
Subject: Article 28A of Irish Constitution, & the Aarhus Convention.

 
Dear Deputy Callanan T.D.,  Deputy Connaughton T.D.,  Deputy McHugh T.D.,  and Councillor Mullins,
 
As I mentioned to all four of you at the end of last night's Anti-Dump Meeting in Kilconnell, I have long believed that Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 is in breach of Article 28A of the written Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. This is because of the fact that it completely removes all power from the democratically elected local government politicians regarding important local community matters connected with the location of huge rubbish dumps (e.g. those now planned for Kilconnell and New Inn), and instead places it entirely in the hands of UNELECTED County Council managers.
 
The content of Article 28A (Item 1) of our written Constitution reads as follows: "The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities."
 
In view of the sudden shock announcement yesterday that New Inn is now the number 1 target for a superdump for Connacht, and as you all stated in public at last night's meeting  that you would be willing to help in any way you could, I would be very grateful if you (and ALL of your political colleagues in local and central government) would now ask to have the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 reviewed please.
 
With regard to the above request, I am very conscious of the fact that where there is doubt regarding the introduction of a new law, President Mary McAleese (the present guardian of our written Constitution) has at her disposal the very easy option of referring to the Supreme Court for guidance; and, that although former Justice Minister Nora Owen (who was a T.D. at the time) asked in Parliament to have the constitutionality of Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 checked by the Supreme Court, President McAleese did not do so: for reasons which continue to be a VERY disturbing and growing source of mystery and suspicion for me. 
 
I would also like to know where Irish politicians stand in regard to the very closely related matter of the Aarhus Convention?  To date, it seems to me that ALL Irish politicians, and ALL of the Irish "mass-media" organisations, are acting as though they never even heard of the Aarhus Convention: even though people like EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom have been making public statements about this EXTREMELY important set of social and environmental principles for some considerable time now? 
 
General information regarding the Aarhus Convention can be found at:
http://www.finnachta.com/TheAarhusConvention.htm
 
In the most recent public statement I have seen attributed to Ms Wallstrom on the Aarhus Convention, I find it very interesting that she has used the word "now" in the following sentence: "Citizens will NOW be able to act as environmental watchdogs!"  The full context of Ms Wallstrom's sentence can be seen at:
http://www.celticparty.com  
 
How, I wonder, can we function effectively as environmental watchdogs if the democratically elected politicians we vote for have all their relevant power and authority removed by laws such as Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001?   
 
I look forward to hearing from you regarding the above two matters (i.e. Article 28A and the Aarhus Convention):  both of which I see as being COMPLETELY above party politics.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty.
 
Postal address:
"St Albans"
New Inn
Ballinasloe
County Galway.
 
PS: For future reference, I intend to place a copy of this e-mail at the following Internet location later today:
 
Also, the problem with Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 has already been brought to the attention of the European Parliament.  Please see:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kellybrendan/petition1/feb-1-2002.htm
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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#17 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Fri Dec 5, 2003 12:09 pm
Subject: Invitation (for Monday December 8th 2003) 		newinngalway
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kilconnell Anti-Dump Public Meeting on Monday December 8th 2003 at 8.30 PM.

Everybody Welcome.

For further information please see below.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

----- Original Message -----

Dear Everyone,
 
If any politicians decide to attend the Public Anti-Dump Meeting in Kilconnell Community Hall this coming Monday (at 8.30 PM), the two things I would most like to hear them talk about are:
 
1) Why is that the €50,000 bribe allegation referred to below is not (to the very best of my knowledge) being investigated in a responsible way by the appropriate authorities: even though the matter was raised in the Irish Parliament last July?
 
2) Why is it that all of the Irish politicians, and all of the Irish "mass-media", seem to be acting in a way which suggests that they have never even heard of the AARHUS CONVENTION: when people like EU Environment Commissioner Ms Margot Wallstrom have been making public statements about this EXTREMELY important set of environmental principles for some considerable time now?
 
In the most recent public statement I have seen attributed to Ms Wallstrom on the Aarhus Convention, I am very conscious of the fact that she used the "present-tense" in the following sentence: " Citizens will NOW be able to act as environmental watchdogs! "  The full context of Ms Wallstrom's sentence can be seen at: http://www.celticparty.com
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr William Finnerty
(Member of Kilconnell Anti-Dump Internet Group)
http://groups.msn.com/KilconnellAntiDump/homepage.msnw

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
----- Original Message -----
 
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 8:09 PM
Subject: [Tara/Skreen] Board Pleanala objection lodged ...

Dear Percy,
 
First let me please point out to the Tara/Skreen group-members that this e-mail has relevance to the M3 archaeological problem/s in their area.  This is because National Toll Roads are (I believe) something like 85% owners of Celtic Waste (which has fairly recently been renamed to Greenstar); and, Greenstar/Celtic Waste are at present having growing difficulties regarding an alleged Euro 50,000 bribe connected with the rubbish dump they are trying to locate in Kilconnell. The bribe was offered (allegedly) to the Chairman of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group.
 
In answer to your last e-mail (dated Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:38 PM) please note that the date given was incorrect for the next PUBLIC MEETING of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group meeting: It should have read Monday December 8th 2003.
 
Please note that brief GENERAL background-type information to the overall set of problems at Kilconnell can now be found on the page titled "Home Page" at the web site address below (which was updated earlier today):
http://groups.msn.com/KilconnellAntiDump/homepage.msnw
 
A community-type petition was lodged I understand with Board Pleanala by the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group (several days ago), and I have been informed that it contains all the basic information regarding the alleged EURO 50,000 bribe - which, according to the November 29th 2003 edition of the "Farmers Journal" weekly newspaper, was EURO 100,000 really!!  (i.e. two lots of 50,000.)
 
Also, an e-mail was sent to Board Planeala yesterday: for the purpose of pointing out some important local heritage issues which may have been inadvertently overlooked in the main community-type objection which I gather was lodged some days ago by the Chairman of the Kilconnell Group (Mr P. Lohan).  A copy of the e-mail in question (which was copied to several Irish NGO's) can now be seen at the page titled "Bord Pleanala" on the new Kilconnell Anti-Dump web site.  The full page address to get there directly is:
 
Answers to your questions (where I am able to provide them):
 
1) "Who applied for the permission?"  >>>  My answer:  The National Toll Roads/Greenstar/Celtic Waste people (as far as I know).

2) " Was it done by a part xiii or x, ?"   >>>  Answer:  I don't know (at the present time).

3) "Was an EIA carried out or not ?"   >>> My answer:  I have heard mention of an EIS being carried out.

4) "What is in the neighbouring surround?"   >>> My answer:  Please refer to the first Internet address above.

5) " What is the geology of the situation?"   >>> My answer:  I don't know (at the present time).  I've been told Greenstar will NOT allow an independent group of consultants employed by the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group to enter the site.  It seems Celtic Waste secretly did deals with some 6 or 7 local land owners (involving "down-payments" and written agreements of some kind) sometime before 2001, and now they (i.e. National Toll Roads/Greenstar) have full legal control of who is allowed to enter the land in question. 
 
6) "What kind of SPA's, NHA's, SAC's, are anywhere nearby?"   >>> My answer: I don't have any answers to these questions (at the present time).
 
7) "You persist on the Aarhus argument. Please tell me what specific Irish law, - gives full effect to - the Aarhus agreement?"   >>> My answer: There is no specific Irish law that I know of.
 
However, and while wishing to STRESS that I am NOT a lawyer, it is nevertheless my understanding that breaking an agreement (be it verbal, written, or inferred) is normally unlawful: unless of course the agreement in question involves something which is widely perceived to be against the common good.  The fact that the Republic of Ireland has actually "signed" something (as indicated in at least one official EU publication which I have in my possession) suggests to me that, at the very least, they must have agreed to provide some form of broad support for the overall set of basic principles embodied in the arrangements decided at the Aarhus Convention. 
 
Best regards,
 
Billy (Finnerty).


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#16 From: "William Finnerty" <wfinnerty@...>
Date: Fri Dec 5, 2003 8:15 am
Subject: Fw: [Tara/Skreen] Board Pleanala objection lodged ... 		newinngalway
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----- Original Message -----
 
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 8:09 PM
Subject: [Tara/Skreen] Board Pleanala objection lodged ...

Dear Percy,
 
First let me please point out to the Tara/Skreen group-members that this e-mail has relevance to the M3 archaeological problem/s in their area.  This is because National Toll Roads are (I believe) something like 85% owners of Celtic Waste (which has fairly recently been renamed to Greenstar); and, Greenstar/Celtic Waste are at present having growing difficulties regarding an alleged Euro 50,000 bribe connected with the rubbish dump they are trying to locate in Kilconnell. The bribe was offered (allegedly) to the Chairman of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group.
 
In answer to your last e-mail (dated Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:38 PM) please note that the date given was incorrect for the next PUBLIC MEETING of the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group meeting: It should have read Monday December 8th 2003.
 
Please note that brief GENERAL background-type information to the overall set of problems at Kilconnell can now be found on the page titled "Home Page" at the web site address below (which was updated earlier today):
http://groups.msn.com/KilconnellAntiDump/homepage.msnw
 
A community-type petition was lodged I understand with Board Pleanala by the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group (several days ago), and I have been informed that it contains all the basic information regarding the alleged EURO 50,000 bribe - which, according to the November 29th 2003 edition of the "Farmers Journal" weekly newspaper, was EURO 100,000 really!!  (i.e. two lots of 50,000.)
 
Also, an e-mail was sent to Board Planeala yesterday: for the purpose of pointing out some important local heritage issues which may have been inadvertently overlooked in the main community-type objection which I gather was lodged some days ago by the Chairman of the Kilconnell Group (Mr P. Lohan).  A copy of the e-mail in question (which was copied to several Irish NGO's) can now be seen at the page titled "Bord Pleanala" on the new Kilconnell Anti-Dump web site.  The full page address to get there directly is:
 
Answers to your questions (where I am able to provide them):
 
1) "Who applied for the permission?"  >>>  My answer:  The National Toll Roads/Greenstar/Celtic Waste people (as far as I know).

2) " Was it done by a part xiii or x, ?"   >>>  Answer:  I don't know (at the present time).

3) "Was an EIA carried out or not ?"   >>> My answer:  I have heard mention of an EIS being carried out.

4) "What is in the neighbouring surround?"   >>> My answer:  Please refer to the first Internet address above.

5) " What is the geology of the situation?"   >>> My answer:  I don't know (at the present time).  I've been told Greenstar will NOT allow an independent group of consultants employed by the Kilconnell Anti-Dump Group to enter the site.  It seems Celtic Waste secretly did deals with some 6 or 7 local land owners (involving "down-payments" and written agreements of some kind) sometime before 2001, and now they (i.e. National Toll Roads/Greenstar) have full legal control of who is allowed to enter the land in question. 
 
6) "What kind of SPA's, NHA's, SAC's, are anywhere nearby?"   >>> My answer: I don't have any answers to these questions (at the present time).
 
7) "You persist on the Aarhus argument. Please tell me what specific Irish law, - gives full effect to - the Aarhus agreement?"   >>> My answer: There is no specific Irish law that I know of.
 
However, and while wishing to STRESS that I am NOT a lawyer, it is nevertheless my understanding that breaking an agreement (be it verbal, written, or inferred) is normally unlawful: unless of course the agreement in question involves something which is widely perceived to be against the common good.  The fact that the Republic of Ireland has actually "signed" something (as indicated in at least one official EU publication which I have in my possession) suggests to me that, at the very least, they must have agreed to provide some form of broad support for the overall set of basic principles embodied in the arrangements decided at the Aarhus Convention. 
 
Best regards,
 
Billy (Finnerty).


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#13 From: Esker Riada <eskerriada@...>
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:58 pm
Subject: Margot Wallstrom: "Empowering people ..." 		eskerriada
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----- Original Message -----
From: 
To: <natureireland@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:05 PM
Subject: [nature-irl] Aarhus

29.10.2003 07:20
EU public wins right to access environmental information Aberdeen, Scotland: All EU citizens should soon be enjoying legally guaranteed rights to access environmental information held by public authorities, to participate in environmental decision-making and to take violations of environmental law to court.

This will come about as a result of aligning legislation at EU level and in EU Member States with the provisions of the 1998 Århus Convention.

The "Århus Convention" is an international agreement which lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizens' involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law. It grants the public access to environmental information, provides for participation in environmental decision-making, and allows the public to seek judicial redress when environmental law is infringed, including breaches of the two previous rights.

The European Commission has just adopted three legislative proposals towards full application of the Convention, launching the final step in implementing its provisions into EU law. These proposals should, in practice, act as the catalyst for important changes in the behaviour of public authorities at all levels by enabling citizens and associations to assume responsibility for the environment.

Margot Wallström, Commissioner for the Environment, said: "Empowering people to protect their environment is a cornerstone of effective policymaking. Citizens must be given the right to know how good or bad the state of the environment is and to participate in decision-making that will affect their health and quality of life. A well-informed and active public means more effective environmental legislation and better enforcement of environmental policies. Citizens will now be able to act as environmental watchdogs!"

The proposed Regulation will strengthen citizens' environmental rights at EU level by giving them access to environmental information such as on the state of the environment and the environmental media, including water, air, soil, land, and on policies, plans and programmes related to the environment.

EU institutions and bodies will be obliged to make this information available on the Internet or via similar systems and respond to requests from citizens and environmental organisations within one month (exceptionally two months).

With regard to public participation, all EU institutions and bodies will have to identify the public likely to be affected by future plans and programmes relating to the environment, and invite them, at an early stage, to participate in the decision-making process and submit their comments and views. The EU institutions and bodies will also have to inform the public of the final decision and the underlying reasons, in particular the outcome of the participation process and how the views expressed have been taken into account.

Lastly, on access to justice, the proposed Regulation enables European NGOs to require the review of decisions by EU institutions and bodies which they consider do not comply with environmental legislation. This review will first have to be done by the EU institution itself and, if the matter is not resolved, the European Court of Justice may be addressed.

News Desk, IntraFish
http://www.intrafish.com/

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The Aarhus Convention:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/aarhus/

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#12 From: Esker Riada <eskerriada@...>
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:54 pm
Subject: "I think something new, and strong, is needed." 		eskerriada
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----- Original Message -----
From: 
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: [nature-irl] Ireland's Disgraceful NGO's and Pseudo-radicals.

Hi,

I think something new, and strong, is needed. A while ago I proposed setting up a new environmental organization. I think a different way of organizing is needed in order to stop the rot from occurring in the first place. From my own experience of bureaucracy it seems that just going along with the 'normal' way of doing things is enough to cripple any organization. Firstly it puts off a lot of people from getting involved by alienating them from the process they might otherwise be part of. I am talking about ordinary people here, not office 'professionals'. And secondly, the gruelling experience of being forced into policy decisions and and the general grey depressing world of the government- and industry-sponsored grant gravy train causes those who make it through to be indistinguishable from the life-destroying entities they should be opposing. It would be arrogant to assume we would be different.

I believe that only the people can represent the people, and this is why there is general disinterest and disempowerment at large now. The present structure creates a huge 'us and them' gulf, where experts take care of the business and we plebs just give them money, and buy their publications which tell us how wonderful they are. There is no other place for us. An organization should embody in itself the aims and principles it espouses, otherwise it is lost, and wide open to appropriation by the ideals and aims of others. For example, it will be necessary to deal with businesses, but this does not mean we have to be a business. What Ray said about regarding capitulation as compromise was bang on, and this attitude rides like a parasite in the very heart of all our NGOs. Above all we must be ourselves if we wish to represent ourselves, yet we are told by those in power that we must change ourselves if we want them to listen to us. For too long now they've had us cowering in their offices, begging for money and doing tricks for treats. It's time to assert ourselves (or am I wrong here?).

"Noise is relative to the silence preceding it. The more absolute the hush, the more shocking the thunderclap. Our masters have not heard the people's voice for generations... and it is much, much louder than they care to remember."
-Alan Moore

Something that is organised roughly along the lines of FoE in the UK (but somewhat less of a central office) is what I imagine. We need to bypass these organizations which have proven themselves unwilling to do what is needed, and too enmeshed in (and seduced by) the State's tentacles to have an objective view. There is no point in wasting energy trying to make people do what they don't want to do. A new, vibrant ecological organization that, in its very structure, represents how humans work together naturally, would become strong quite quickly, and would make these other organizations irrelevant. It would be painless; no coup or struggle with them would be necessary. In the NGO world--though the business-heads would have us believe otherwise--the only thing that matters is members. If this organization has overwhelmingly more members than the old lot, money will not be important. What _is_ important is _people_. People can do things, and people who do things because they want to do them achieve far more than people who are just being paid to do a job.

All we need is 4 or 5 of us to get this started. Obviously there would be a lot to be ironed out, but as Goethe (or perhaps he quoted it) said:
“…. Whatever you can do or dream, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

How about it?

Andy

"It is the great triumph of compulsory government monopoly mass-schooling that among even the best of my fellow teachers, and among even the best of my students' parents, only a small number can imagine a different way to do things."
-John Taylor Gatto

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