EUROPEAN COURT JUDGEMENT ON CITY OUTER BYPASS MONTHS OFF

Date Published: 12-Sep-2012

Judges at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg are expected to take up to six months to give a decision on the case concerning the Galway Outer city bypass. The case, Peter Sweetman versus An Bord Pleanala, concluded at the court of the European Union this afternoon. It was heard by a panel of judges, and involved submissions from other EU countries inclduing Greece. It will see the European court rule on the interpretation of conservation areas under the European Council's habitat directive. If the court's clarification is favourable, the bypass legal proceedings will resume here in the Supreme 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. Galway West Fine Gael TD Sean Kyne is in Luxembourg today for the oral hearing. He says it could take months before a decision is given on the case.