The Opposition criticised the Government yesterday following a European Court of Justice ruling concerning its failure to schedule habitat areas for protection.
The Fine Gael arts, heritage, Gaeltacht and the islands spokesman, Mr Dinny McGinley, said it was a serious indictment of the Government's "ham-fisted" approach to the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive.
"Not alone are we facing legal sanctions but we may also be liable for heavy financial penalties," he said. There was an onus on the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, to make a clear statement of policy, he added. The Labour spokesman, Mr Brian O'Shea, described the judgment as a "serious rebuke" for Ms de Valera and said it again exposed Ireland to international embarrassment for failure to live up to obligations to the environment.
Mr Trevor Sargent, Green Party spokesman on heritage and wildlife, warned that the low priority given to wildlife protection could result in a daily fine for the State until the situation was rectified. "A similar fine was levied against the Greek government of #20,000 which mounted up over a six-month period before the Court was satisfied that the wrongdoing against the environment was put right."
Tim O'Brien adds:
Ms de Valera said a total of 362 candidate sites had been forwarded for EU approval since 1998.
"I am confident the extra time taken to consult land-owners, process appeals, set up liaison committees, discuss management plans and provide a fair basis for any necessary compensation will pay off," she said, adding that speculation that fines would be imposed on Ireland by the court had proved totally unfounded.
But the Minister's position was criticised by environmental agencies. An Taisce described the number of sites put forward for designation as "entirely inadequate" and accused Ms de Valera of "pretending not to know" that the EU had criticised the State over the lack of designation for sensitive areas. Friends of the Irish Environment said the Minister appeared to be trying to dismiss the ruling as a technical matter, and Dr Peter Foss, of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council said the political will to protect the natural heritage was missing.