EUROPEAN COURT HEARS LEGAL ARGUMENT INVOLVING CITY OUTER BYPASS

Date Published: 12-Sep-2012

A panel of judges in Luxembourg are listening to legal argument this lucnhtime on a court case concerning the Galway City Outerbypass.

It will see the European court rule on the interpretation of conservation areas under the European Council's habitat directive.

The hearing, Peter Sweetman versus An Bord Pleanala, is being heard in the court of Justice at the European Union.

Court documents show that as far as the questions relation to the present request are concerned, Mr Sweetman is supported by Ireland, the Attorney general and the Minister for Environment.

An Bord Pleanala is supported by Galway County Council and Galway City Council.

If the court's clarification is favourable, the bypass legal proceedings will resume here in the High Court.

However, if the court rules that the project as it stands will contravene the habitats directive, then the plans for the bypass will have to be re-examined.