On 11 July 1997 Clare County Council finally acknowledged, after seven years, that the proposed visitor facilities at Mullaghmore were in contravention of the County Development Plan. This meant that in order for planning permission to be granted it would have to be approved by three quarters of the County Councillors. It became clear as the date for the vote on the matter approached that the supporters of the project would be unable to obtain the required three quarters majority in the Council Chamber. The tactic they adopted was to defer the vote on the spurious grounds that the Minister was attempting some form of "peace initiative".
What of this "peace initiative"? B.A.G. did have one meeting with the Minister at her request 10 months ago. We were asked if we would participate in a consultative committee to advise the Minister with regard to developments in the Burren. We pointed out that there was no point in her carrying out consultations with regard to Mullaghmore when she appeared fully committed to pressing ahead with the development - even in the face of opposition from Clare County Council. We asked the Minister to provide us with clear terms of reference for the proposed consultative committee.
On 5 September 1998 the supporters of the Mullaghmore project found that they could delay no more. The vote was held and, as there was not the required three quarters majority of Councillors in favour, it was lost. Planning permission was refused by Clare County Council.
On 13 October 1998 the Minister appealed the decision of the Clare County Council to An Bord Pleanala on the basis that they felt their planning application was not in contravention of the County Development Plan. In order to ensure that that the voice of the Burren Action Group is heard we have also appealed the decision, on the basis that the reasons given by the County Council for refusing the planning application are not sufficiently strong. B.A.G. has also requested that there be an oral hearing. This is very much up to the discretion of the Bord, but we feel that they would be unlikely to refuse given the important nature of the case and the large amount of attention that it has attracted over the years. WWF, the Conservation Foundation, Plantlife International, The Irish Peatland Conservation Council, An Taisce, The Mountaineering Council of Ireland and many other have also sent in submissions to An Bord Pleanala.
While we are hopeful that the Bord will reach the proper and just decision we are in no way complacent. A great deal of effort has gone into our submissions and into those of all the other groups and individuals. And our fund-raisers are redoubling their efforts to ensure that the money is there to carry on the campaign. Long ago someone said it would all be over by Christmas! But they didn't say which one.
Again what of the "peace initiative"? In early December, a full 18 months after it first mentioned, B.A.G. received a letter from the Minister requesting that we nominate a representative to the consultative committee that she had just announced. Its general brief seems to be to provide the Minister with advice on developments in the north Clare area, the Burren and the national park. Included in the brief was an advisory role on the "centres which the Minister supports". It is a fairly wide brief with a very narrow focus. The groups to be represented seem to have been selected to maximise the representation of those who support the Minister's plans for Mullaghmore. Again the Burren Action Group must carefully examine the intentions of the Minister. Can she be seriously offering consultations on the Mullaghmore issue while at the same time trying to drive this damaging and divisive project through the planning process? There will be a B.A.G. meeting early in the new year to decide upon the appropriate response.
Happy Christmas to all from the Burren Action Group once again. And thanks to all who have supported in so many ways through the all the years of the campaign. And the News Years Day Walk at Mullaghmore is comming up again.