Controversy over public consultation on port plans.
Controversy is still raging over the validity of the public consultation procedures in relation to proposals for the alterations of the harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company at the proposed new deep water port of Bremore.
The plans should have been freely available for public viewing at the front office of Drogheda Garda station for a period of 21 days, but the Drogheda Independent has been contacted by a number of people who said the gardaí were either unaware of what was being asked for, or people could only view the proposals in a private room and in the presence of several gardaí.
They were also not allowed to photocopy or photograph the plans.
When this reporter went to view the plans, there was initial confusion as to the whereabouts of the folder, and it was thought they had been sent back to get the time extended.
However, it transpired they had been moved to a different location within the station.
'It is outrageous that these plans were not in a library in Balbriggan, or somewhere like a planning office more accessible to the general public,' says Dr Mark Clinton, a Howth-based archaeological consultant for An Taisce.
' When you see the advertisements that were placed in the Drogheda Independent, you would not think there was any connection to Bremore as it just mentions 'alterations of the harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company'.
'However, this actually proposes to put a great big harbour in a beautiful part of north County Dublin, and I'm sure if people knew about it, they would be interested to see if it affects them.'
It took Dr Clinton three attempts to get to see the plans, and he says he wasn't personally intimidated by the surroundings of the garda station, but he has spoken to some who were.
'Asking for the Superintendent's office is a big deal to some people, and I can't see why they needed to be kept there,' says Dr Clinton.
'I actually think the gardaí have many more important things to be doing, and it is outrageous these proposals weren't on show in a library or other more public building.'
- Alison COMYN
From the Drogheda Independent. Thursday, September 24 2009.
Leading developer says Nama will be positive for economy.
ONE OF the State’s biggest property developers believes Nama will take over most of its assets, but that the process will benefit both it and the economy. The Government’s plan to recapitalise the banks hinges on the proposed National Asset Management Agency (Nama), which will take over up to €90 billion in property loans. Listed property investor Real Estate Opportunities (REO), whose biggest shareholder, the John Ronan and Richard Barrett-controlled Treasury Holdings, is Nama’s landlord, believes the agency will take over the loans it has from the banks. John Bruder, managing director of Treasury Ireland which is part of the Treasury Holdings group, told The Irish Times yesterday that the company has studied the draft Nama legislation. He said the agency could take over good and bad loans. “It’s our expectation that a lot, if not all, of our portfolio will end up being subsumed into Nama,” he said. Mr Bruder added that, unlike other players in the market, none of REO’s loans are distressed. The company owns a large number of commercial and retail properties, including the landmark Central Park complex close to Leopardstown in Dublin, Montevetro on Barrow Street in the city centre, and a range of others in the capital’s main business district. In Britain, it owns the flagship Battersea power station, which it is redeveloping as a new urban centre. REO yesterday reported that its Irish properties, including investment assets and those under development, were worth just over €1.3 billion at the end of June, an 8 per cent fall over the previous six months. Its British interests were worth £388 million, a decline of 14.5 per cent. Mr Bruder said that if loans related to part or all of its portfolio are taken over by Nama, it will simply mean that the company will be repaying the agency instead of the banks. If the Oireachtas passes the legislation on schedule, Nama will begin its work towards the end of the year on a phased basis, taking on the larger loans first. On that basis, REO expects to begin dealing with agency around December or January. Under the terms of the proposed legislation, Nama will assume the banks’ rights and obligations in relation to any loans it takes over. Mr Bruder added that the Nama process should be positive for both the company and the economy generally, as it will allow the banks to raise money that can then be loaned. Nama’s critics argue that it will result in the taxpayer taking on too much risk as the State will overpay for the loans.
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times. 28/08/09
Port threatens an archaeological complex of passage tombs.
AN TAISCE has warned that the proposed deepwater port at Bremore, north Co Dublin, could threaten an archaeological complex of passage tombs even older than Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley. The environmental trust was commenting yesterday on plans by Drogheda Port to extend its boundary southwards so as to incorporate Bremore for development of the deepwater port in partnership with Treasury Holdings. An Taisce said it had ascertained that the proposed alteration of the Drogheda Port Company’s area of control is to facilitate the construction of a new deepwater port at Bremore to cater for vessels up to 250 metres. Saying it was opposed to this development, the trust complained no environmental assessment of its effects has been made available, and thus there could be no proper public consultation, as required under EU law. It pointed out that the river Nanny estuary is an EU-designated nature conservation site – a special protected area under the birds directive and a candidate for special area of conservation under the habitats directive. The foreshore and associated sand dunes is home to many species of concern. According to a Foras Forbartha report (1972), the Helix Pisana is a “species that is only found on the Irish coast between south Co Louth and north Co Dublin”. An Taisce said the archaeological profile of the Bremore area was particularly significant, as it included the legally-protected Bremore Passage Tomb Cemetery as well as elements of the Gormanston Passage Tomb Cemetery. Archaeologist Dr Mark Clinton, chairman of An Taisce’s national monuments and antiquities committee, said one mound had an entrance orientation indicating the possibility that it was aligned with the summer solstice. “In this regard, and given their morphology and geographical location, there’s every possibility the builders were the near ancestors of those that built the nearby world-acclaimed tombs of Brú na Bóinne [the Boyne Valley tombs].” Dr Clinton said the two cemetery complexes proposed to be incorporated by Drogheda Port under the 2009 Harbours Act “must be considered within the greater context of other passage tombs nearby at Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange”. “Hence we believe it is far more appropriate that the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne would be extended to include the Bremore-Gormanston complexes rather than their obliteration as a result of an ‘extension’ for ‘development’ of Drogheda Port.” An Taisce highlighted a potential loss of public amenities, noting that Gormanston lies at the southern end of a “renowned stretch of sandy beaches. Notice of the Bremore extension plan is available for public inspection only in the Superintendent’s office at Drogheda Garda Station. The deadline for submissions and objections is September 8th. All submissions should be sent to Garret Doocey, Maritime Transport Division, Department of Transport, Dublin 2; email garret.doocey@transport.ie.
FRANK McDONALD, Environment Editor.
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times. September 2nd. 2009.
The next Tara/M3 spectacle.
The planned site of the new Drogheda/Dublin Port at Bremore could well be the next Tara/M3 spectacle. The site, which comprising of several hundred acres, contains the remnants of a number of passage tombs and practically every field, which the new Drogheda Port Company facility will be built on, contains early Neolithic archaeology. “The tombs at Bremore are of an earlier date than that of Newgrange and Fourknocks. They are very early Neolithic and this has been recorded before,” said local historian Brendan Matthews. “The tombs are only the start of the archaeology in the area. I walk the fields there regularly and I have collected bags of flint objects including scrapers and arrowheads.” An archaeological excavation undertaken in 1840 on a tomb at Knocknagin at the Delvin River uncovered a number of early Neolithic finds and stones around the tomb had no drawings engraved on them pointing to an earlier date than that of Newgrange. Finds in the area point to Bremore being one of the first ever sites of Neolithic settlement in Ireland.
The E300 million development was given the green light by the government after the Transport and Marine Minister Noel Dempsey stated that he intended to give permission to the Drogheda company.
Anthony Murphy of www. Mythicalireland.com said, “The remnants of the passage tombs at Bremore are Neolithic and are on the same timeline as Newgrange.” “These are no ordinary fields, it has been recorded that there is significant archaeology on the land.” The Drogheda Leader contacted the Drogheda Port Company but they were unavailable for comment at the time of print.
From The Drogheda Leader, November 21. 2008.
Pollution.
In a breefing issued on the 26 May and reported in the Irish Times on May 27, 2008, the EPA said that Fingal Co Council had the worst bathing standards of any Irish couny or local authority and more than half of its beaches failed to meet mandatory EU standards. These beaches include Balbriggan, Loughshinny and Portrane all neighbouring beaches of Breamore.
Irish Times. May 28th. 2009.
Speech.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Balbriggan Historical Society, Professor George Eogan said the area on both sides of the Delvin River from Gormanston to Bremore is a large Megalithic cemetery dating from 3,500BC. He said this has been recorded, researched and written about for well over 100 years and added the mounds on this site are legally protected under the National Monuments Act of 1930. Prof Eogan believes that Bremore may have been the first point of entry for the settlements of what is now known as Fingal/East Meath and the Boyne Valley area.
He has written a detailed report on the history of the area and the historical value of the site at Bremore.
Local historian Brendan Matthews has also expressed his concerns about the development of a new port on such a historical site and raised the issue as far back as 2005.He said that in the immediate vicinity of the proposed deep-water port, there are the remains of at least five megalithic tombs or burial chambers, while to the north of Bremore there are the remains of at least another six tombs scattered over a wide area from Knocknagin to Lowther Lodge.
Responding to the professors report and lecture, CEO of Drogheda Port, Paul Fleming said they recognise that there is archaeology at Bremore and will deal with it in an upfront and professional manner. He said the archaeology of the site was just one element in what was a complicated and multi-faceted site selection process which took two years to complete.
From the Drogheda Independent. Wednesday, December 05 2007.
Drogheda Port Company and Treasury Holdings are planning a 300 million world class port facility, which is expected to be operational by 2012. According to local historian, Paddy Boyle, the site is highly significant and an extraordinary example of megalithic tombs which could be of enormous value, both in terms of archaeology and tourism. If they were of the mind to develop its archaeological sites in the future, it would probably be the oldest in the county and on a par with Newgrange and Loughcrew. The artists impression of the new port does'nt show the tomb complex being retained in any way. In fact the roll-on roll-off terminal is positioned exactly where the tomb complex is located.
From The Fingal Independent, 2008.
Public statement on the Proposed Port at Bremore, County Dublin. 31 March 2007.
The proposed location is an area with a rich, recorded and designated prehistoric and historic archaeological heritage.The most well known element is the passage tomb cemetery on Bremore Head which extends along the coastline to include outliers at Gormanston. The Bremore tombs are designated National Monuments, with the attendant significance and protections this implies. Acknowledged experts in the archaeology of prehistoric Ireland suggest that this cemetery group is comparable to the complexes at the Boyne Valley and Lough Crew in County Meath as well as Carrowmore and Carrowkeel in County Sligo. Archaeological survey in the area has also recorded evidence for settlement and occupation in the vicinity of the tombs from the Neolithic (4000-2400BC) and Bronze Age (2400-500BC). At this juncture, IAI urges all interested parties within the profession to engage in open-handed and informative dialogue on the matter . Teresa Bolger. Public Relations Officer. Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, 2007.
Dublin Bay - Proposed 52 acre infill. Sunday, 15 June 2008.Statement from Sean 'Dublin Bay' Loftus, B.L. and Finian McGrath T.D. (Ind.) in reply to statement from Enda Connellon, CEO of Dublin Port Company, launching the 2005 annual report of Dublin Port (August 15th 2006) (Re proposed 52 acre infill of Dublin Bay)Mr Connellan CEO Dublin Port Company, stated on August 15th that the Port Company intends to proceed with a controversial plan to reclaim 21 hectares (52 acres) of land opposite the sea front at Clontarf as the port needs to urgently address operational capacity issues to serve the Irish economy. "This amounts to environmental blackmail. Dublin Baywatch has proved that if the Port was properly managed, there would be need to reclaim this land. Press Release. Drogheda Port Company and Castlemarket Holdings. 15 January 2008. The joint venture between Drogheda Port Company and Castle Market Holdings Ltd, announces today that it will seek to develop a Port Master Plan with Hutchison Westports Ltd for the new €300 million deepwater port at Bremore in north Co Dublin. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Bremore Ireland Port Ltd and Hutchison Westports Ltd paves the way for the next phase in the development of the deepest port on the east coast of Ireland. Bremore Ireland Port hopes to be in a position to submit a full planning permission application in the next 12 months. The new deepwater port will provide additional choice to Ireland importers and exporters, and accommodate new short sea shipping services to the United Kingdom, Europe, Scandanavia and the Baltic States. Bremore Port will be designed and operated to provide the highest environmental standards and respect for the local community. It is anticipated that a diverse business district will be created around the port bringing widescale economic benefits to the Bremore/Balbriggan area and presenting lifestyle opportunities for local people to work in their local area. The project is proposed in three phases with Phase 1, subject to detailed design, potentiallycatering for up to 10 million tonnes of freight including 350,000 TEU Lo-Lo units, 409,000 Ro-Ro units and 1 million tonnes of general and bulk cargoes. The first phase of development will provide circa 500mtrs of linear quay for container and general cargo handling, two Ro-Ro and one high speed ferry berth for road freight, car and foot passenger traffic. The depth alongside will be in the order of 10.5m below CD, with a potential for future deepening to 12.0m.The port will be designed and operated to provide the highest environmental standards and respect for the local community. A diverse business district will be created around the port bringing wide economic benefits to the Bremore-Balbriggan area and presenting lifestyle opportunities for local people to work locally. Bremore Ireland Port Ltd is a joint venture partnership between Drogheda Port Company and Castle Market Holdings Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Real Estate Opportunities Limited. REO business in Ireland is managed by Treasury Holdings. HPH is the world leading port investor, developer and operator with interests in a total of 292 berths in 46 ports, spanning 23 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Paul Fleming, CEO Drogheda Port Company commented: We are delighted to welcome Hutchison Westports Ltd to the Bremore team. Their port planning and operational experience will be a major asset to the development of Bremore Ireland Port.John Bruder, managing director of Treasury Holdings commented: Bremore Port is one of the most exciting commercial developments in Ireland at present and we are delighted that a truly world-class international partner in Hutchison Westports is now onboard.
Prof Eogan who believes that Bremore may have been the first point of entry for the settlements of what is now known as Fingal/East Meath and the Boyne Valley area has written a detailed report on the history of the area and the historical value of the site at Bremore.
A survey of the passage tombs at Bremore was published by Etienne Rynne (Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, 1960) and recent publications in Archaeology Ireland (Cooney, 2008; Condit, Moore and Brady, 2008) have stressed the significant and integrated nature of the prehistoric and historic archaeological remains in the area.
Archaeological survey in the area has also recorded evidence for settlement and occupation in the vicinity of the tombs from the Neolithic (4000-2400BC) and Bronze Age (2400-500BC).
Teresa Bolger. Public Relations Officer. Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, 2007.
Ireland’s Environmental Record.
Despite having just 1 per cent of the European Union’s population, Ireland accounts for 6 per cent of all EU environmental infringement cases being investigated by the European Commission, according to Proinsias De Rossa, Labour MEP for Dublin. He said yesterday that Ireland had the third highest number of infringements under investigation (54) after Spain (96) and Italy (90). Countries with fewer cases included Britain (52), France (51) and Germany (43), all with 10 times Ireland’s population.Launching a detailed research paper No Time to Waste , which documents Ireland’s non-compliance, he warned that Ireland’s failure to implement EU environmental legislation could prove an impediment to a sustainable economic recovery.
Mr De Rossa said that “conservative political forces” in Ireland viewed environmental protection as one of the negative “obligations” of EU membership – “measures that should be opposed and, when that proves futile, to be delayed for as long as possible”.
Frank Mc Donald, Environment Editor, Irish Times, Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
http://www.tara-foundation.org/Bremore-Port.phpmail@tara-foundation.org.
The Way In.
