The Government is to appeal the High Court's ruling on Moore Street in Dublin.

The High Court recently granted approval for essential works to be carried out to preserve the National Monument, Numbers 14-17 Moore Street.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, said the appeal is due to the potential widespread implications of the judgment for planning and development nationally.

She said: "I have considered whether it would be possible to appeal sections of the judgment, but that is not a viable legal option. If I did not to appeal this judgment, I would be ignoring very strong advice from the Attorney General, the Departments of Environment and Transport, the OPW and Transport Infrastructure Ireland that an appeal is necessary in the interests of planning and development projects nationwide.

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"The decision to appeal the High Court ruling does not mean we cannot find a way forward for Moore Street. There are a range of views in relation to what is the best way to proceed. In a bid to bring together all of these views and seek positive progress, I will be establishing a consultative group on Moore Street with an independent Chair. This follows a suggestion from Fianna Fáil on the matter."

However, Sinn Féin spokesperson for the Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht Peadar Tóibín TD, described the decision as "deeply insulting".

He said: "References by the Department to the potential for the decision to becomes a 'Crank's Charter' is both deeply insulting to the campaign and the relatives and completely disingenuous. Citizens will still be able to use the legal system to test the legality of such developments. If such challenges are not meritorious and are frivolous or vexatious, they will in all likelihood be unsuccessful and will fail to achieve their intended outcome.

"It's interesting that the Minister cites the development of the 'Consultative Group' as a Fianna Fáil proposal. Is this another example of the arm’s length coalition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael making decisions behind the scenes?

"The Minister proposes that this Consultative Groups be made up of stakeholders despite making decisions which are completely contrary to the wishes of the stakeholders. This is an effort to apply a soothing balm to a sore that the Minister has just inflamed."

(CD/LM)