08.24.07
‘Tribute to Pat Rabbitte’
Oireachtas Environment Committee members on the Hill of Skryne, near Tara, investigating M3 motorway in 2004
TARAWATCH STATEMENT
24 August 2007
A TRIBUTE TO PAT RABBITE, RETIRING LABOUR LEADER
Pat Rabbitte was a man of honour, who kept his word and never betrayed his principles with regards to the preservation of the Hill of Tara. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.
It is hoped that his sucessor carries on the campaign, in this time of crisis over demolition of the Lismullin national monument. It is also hoped that successor will be Eamon Gilmore, who is the rightful, intellectual and moral successor to Rabbitte, when it comes to the environment and heritage.
Over the past four years, Pat Rabbitte and his party made repeated calls on the Government to have the M3 project reviewed, in order to ensure that the national monuments there were adequately protected, and to avoid undue delay in delivery of a project that was always bound to be held up in litigation. He has been proven right, and should have been listened to.
The Labour Party were the only party who promised to re-route the M3 away from Tara, in the last General Election. This strategy hurt them in commuter counties like Meath and Cavan, which were key constituiencies for them, particularly with Dominic Hannigan in Meath. The Green party did not even mention the M3 in their election manifesto, which should have been a clear signal that they had compromised on Tara even before negotiations began with Fianna Fail.
In 2004, when the Labour Party put forward a Private Members Bill, concerning the preservation of the Hill of Tara, from M3 construction, Pat Rabbitte made the following statements, which will stand always as a testament to his integrity and vision:
“The Hill of Tara is an important national monument, a treasure trove of our Celtic past, and a major national tourist attraction – indeed I understand it is one of the three best-known and most-visited archaeological and historical sites in the country, in addition to Newgrange and the Rock of Cashel”.
“Tara will be fiercely defended against the proposed desecration by supporters from all over the country, and indeed the world, and the result will inevitably be that the much-needed transport relief will be held up in years of litigation”.
“I strongly believe that such an outcome will never be contemplated by the Irish people, and I use this opportunity, once again, to repeat my insistence that our primary task must be to prevent that from happening”.