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THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has confirmed to the Independent MEP Nessa Childers that they are assessing the Irish authorities’ response to a formal complaint about the demolition of ‘heritage houses’ in Kilkenny.
A new road in Kilkenny City due to be built requires the demolition of the houses, but the EU Commission is investigating if it is in breach of an EU directive.
The EU directorate General for the Environment made a commitment earlier this month that it would investigate plans by Kilkenny County Council to demolish houses in the city’s Vicar Street.
The Irish authorities have now responded to the EU Direcotrate, for which they will decide to proceed further.
Demolition
The complaint stated that the proposed demolition of 20-22 Vicar Street, to make way for a proposed Central Access Scheme, could be in breach of the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments.
In an email to the MEP, a senior official in Brussels responsible for enforcement of environment law, Mr Paul Speight, said: “The Irish authorities replied to us on 25 October. We will now be assessing that reply and will inform you and the other complainants of our conclusions.”
Medieval remains
A local group has said that medieval remains – a gable wall and a shouldered chimney – at one of the 19th century houses should be protected by the council. However the former owner of the house told TheJournal.ie that the delay in the demolition of the house was “wasting taxpayers money”.
Childers welcomed the EU Commission’s response during a visit to Kilkenny city yesterday, when she visited the site of the proposed Central Access Road Scheme, together with Councillor Malcolm Noonan and Ms Shirley O’Brien – who complained to the EU on behalf of local citizens – as well as a representative of An Taisce.
Taken seriously
Ms Childers said she was “delighted that the EU Commission is taking the complaint seriously. She said:
Kilkenny County Council and the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, need to wake up and realise that this complaint is not going to be shrugged off.The houses in Vicar Street are an important part of Kilkenny’s built heritage and Kilkenny County Council must comply fully with domestic and European law in relation to them.
Earlier this week, Kilkenny County Council’s archaeologists say that a site on Vicar Street contains no traces of a medieval minister’s house, but An Taisce disagreed, stating that there were a whole host reasons why the Central Access Scheme should not proceed.
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Monster ones on Burrow Beach, Sutton. One was nearly a metre wide! STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS…………..(hopefully the traffic won’t be so bad now heading home)
DO NOT MAKE ANY UNNECESSARY JOURNEYS!!
Bloody foreigner jellyfish coming over here stinging our women.
Kill it. Kill it with fire.
These guys coming here to ride our generous welfare system ?
Lots of them on bettystown beach, counted at least 10 last night on the sand
There’s gotta be a gag about drawing a lion in the sand, but it’s just not working for me.
Huge amount of them on the beach between Balbriggan and Gormanstown….have a craving all day for Trifle , no idea why
Come on Darragh these Bad boys turn up every year and give the equivalent of a nettle sting. They are also one of the most beautiful creatures we have around our coastline and are incredibly beautiful under water. I know you know this why all the drama this year?
I saw that lady on Sherkin Island last week and she was in a terrible state… She was very lucky to make it. I’ve lived down here all my life, nearly 40 years, and I have never seen anything like it.
And btw I’ve also seen people stung by nettle stings…
A few on Skerries beach right now
Used to spend summers there with my aunt in the 80′s and depending on the conditions the beach would be covered with thousands of the jellyfish. Not sure if they were these guys though. The gulls usually made short work of them.
“The increase coincides with a rise in temperatures this week….Our waters are much too warm for the larger versions. ” !!!! Might this imply that when the weather and waters cool we will get the larger ones?
So Joey & Monica shouldn’t have bothered going through all that embarrassment! !
They have been all over South West Ireland for the past two months, nobody notices :-)
None in West Kerry 3 weeks ago
I heard there was many of them in Tralee last week.
I fear someone at the Joural is suffering from a sever case of Cnidophobia because this is at least the third if not more articles on the subject of Jellyfish epidemics!…I only hope you find a cure fast but in the meatime this may help.
http://common-phobias.com/Cnido/phobia.htm
Jellyfish stings are so painful!
Was watching jellies swimming last Sunday. Lovely creatures.
They move slowly, so can be easily observed. Watch out for little fish living within the jellies.
Hope to see them again on Thursday
What a load of toss. I spent 7 hours surfing yesterday on the SE coast and the water was full of jellies. Not one sting. This article is crap and just scaremongering.
I Persume that you were in a wetsuit. Was the ride on its way in or out ?
Please clarify – The RIDE or the TIDE ?
I just avoid the jellyfish and the jellyfish don’t attack me.
Comparing the sting to a nettle sting is ludicrous. I was stung by one in Howth a few years ago and it was the worst experience ever. Multiple spasms and no sleep for over 24 hours. All the piss/vinegar in Dublin wouldn’t have helped!
@henry howard – And what were the effects of the jellyfish sting ?
That Red jellyfish is the Labour party jellyfish – If you get stung by one, U’ll be Howlin for at least 5 yrs after. They make ya moan & do worse damage than ya’d ever think.
There’s a famous seafood restaurant in Bangkok that advertises,’ If it swims we serve it’. I was less than impressed as I ordered steamed jellyfish only to be politely informed that they didn’t cook jellyfish. I pointed out that their advertising campaign was false.
Had to get out of the sea in Hole in the Wall in Sutton yesterday after warning from lifeguard :(
About 40 on the beach that day …
have your say