NEPP launches broadside at Gormley during Robinstown visit

Environment Minister John Gormley is this week under fire from two campaign groups opposed to major developments across Meath: the North-East Pylon Pressure (NEPP), opposing EirGrid"s powerline plan, and Tarawatch, which opposes the M3 motorway through the Skryne-Tara valley. On Monday, the minister was in Meath, where he launched Green Flag projects at a number of schools, including Robinstown, where there is strong opposition to the EirGrid power line plan. NEPP had planned a major protest at the visit, but following talks with local parents who are involved in the group, felt that it would overshadow the children"s memories of the day and it was called off. However, NEPP described the visit as sheer hypocrisy on the part of the minister, who was presenting a Green Flag in recognition of the pupils" involvement with environmental projects. 'As part of its proposed North-South electricity projects, EirGrid wants to build giant pylons and overhead high voltage lines about 100 metres from the school, which has 170 pupils and a teaching staff of 14,' NEPP said. 'Parents, pupils and teachers have expressed concern about the dangers to their health of extended exposure to electromagnetic radiation from 400 kV wires.' Robinstown is one of several schools in counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan which are threatened in this way, NEPP added. Aimée Treacy of NEPP, who lives in the area, said: 'Since 2000, more than 60 international research reports have linked exposure to electromagnetic fields to an increased risk of cancer. A study by Oxford University in 2005 found that living within 200 metres of high voltage power lines increases a child"s chance of getting leukaemia by 69 per cent. Even the Irish Government"s own expert report, back in March 2007, warned that a link with cancer cannot be discounted.' Ms Treacy said that John Gormley has done nothing to implement even a sentence of that report and his presence in Robinstown was just sheer hypocrisy. 'These are our children,' she said. 'We want them to have a healthy future. We will not allow either John Gormley or EirGrid to jeopardise their future.' NEPP congratulated the pupils of Robinstown NS, their teachers and parents on their Green Flag achievement, saying it was significant that the vast majority of the children"s artwork on display to Mr Gormley consisted of images of unspoiled countryside with a big red 'Stop!" sign superimposed on giant electricity pylons. Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Shane McEntee, has called on Communications Minister Eamon Ryan to bring the subject of undergrounding the national grid to the Dail. 'The Government has dallied too long on this question,' he said. 'This is an issue that is going to affect every county in Ireland and it is time for a decision. Other European countries have already decided that the undergrounding of electrical cables is the way forward. We now hear that, in the USA, the House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, has introduced two bills which call on the US government to ensure that all future cabling goes underground.' Deputy McEntee continued: 'This Government has an opportunity to allow Ireland become a world leader in this technology and it will give Ireland a head start in developing further environmentally friendly electricity-generating strategies. Utilising a more efficient national grid will eventually allow Ireland to export its electrical surplus instead of having to buy in the current deficit from abroad. It is proven that underground cables are a cleaner and greener method of transporting electricity. They are quicker to install due to the fact that the physical footprint they require is smaller than traditional overhead lines. They are more efficient, generating less waste than traditional power lines.' Meanwhile, Tarawatch was yesterday (Tuesday) launching its 'Gormley Must Go" campaign outside his offices at the Custom House in Dublin, calling on him to resign over what it terms is his failure to protect the Hill of Tara and other important natural and cultural heritage sites in Ireland. As the UNESCO World Heritage Committee began its annual meeting in Seville, Spain, Tarawatch claimed that Minister Gormley had promised to nominate the Hill of Tara and other sites, such as The Burren, Cliffs of Moher and Clonmacnoise, to the committee. Tarawatch claims he has broken that promise, without even an explanation, after conducting a long and expensive public consultation since last year. Tarawatch added that the European Court of Justice is hearing arguments in the case brought by the European Commission against Ireland over its demolition of the national monument at Lismullin in 2007. The case alleges that Ireland has failed to implement the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) directive, and could result in a new EIA and a new route for the M3.