A delegation of MEPs are visiting Carrickmines Castle today to investigate whether the Government's plans to run the M50 motorway through the site comply with EU law.
The group, invited by Labour MEP Mr Proinsias De Rossa, will be joined by officials from the European Parliament's petitions committee, of which Mr De Rossa is vice-president.
Mr De Rossa submitted a formal complaint about the planned building to the European Commission last autumn. The petitions committee has since been investigating whether the Government's plans comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.
The Government and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have been invited to address the committee on the matter, and the Government's answers to questions put to it by the Commission last autumn are being studied.
Mr De Rossa said that if the Commission decides EU law has not been complied with, it can take Ireland before the European Court of Justice. This could result in substantial fines being levied against Ireland. The Commission could also seek the repayment of EU financial support of about €70 million for the project.