| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.8, No.13, 4.4.02, p7 |
| Publication Date | 04/04/2002 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 04/04/02 By THE new European Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) in Ireland opened as scheduled this week despite the continuing threat of legal action over alleged breaches of planning regulations. The FVO, the only European Commission directorate based outside Brussels or Luxembourg, started work on Tuesday (2 April) at its new base at Grange in County Meath, 50 kilometres north-west of Dublin. The launch of the EU's €33 million showpiece project, however, has been overshadowed by the threat of court action. Local campaigners have now given the Commission 21 days to comply with building and planning regulations which, they claim, were breached during its construction, or face legal proceedings. A local resident, Denis Ó Buachalla, who has led the fight against the agency being sited at Grange, said: 'I have taken legal advice and been informed that all the parties involved in the construction of the FVO must have an opportunity to respond to the allegations. 'I have now given the Commission, Meath County Council and the Irish Office of Public Works 21 days to comply with the building and planning regulations or face enforcement action.' Campaigners claim the land on which the FVO is built is designated for agricultural use only and its construction violates the Meath development plan. They also say the Commission failed to comply with EU rules by not carrying out an environmental impact assessment before work started at the site in October 1999. About 152 staff will work from the FVO, which has been temporarily based at Dublin. Thorsten Muench, spokesman for Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne, said: 'We have heard nothing about any legal action and the opening went ahead as scheduled.' The European Food Veterinary Office opened in Grange, Ireland on 2 April 2002 amid a threat of court action over alleged breaches of planning regulations. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Politics and International Relations |
