An Taisce has welcomed the Taoiseach's promise of a National Trust for the State, but it reminded Mr Ahern in a statement yesterday it was already constituted as the National Trust and "must be recognised as such by the new legislation".
Mr John Ducie, vice-chairman of An Taisce, said a report in The Irish Times yesterday suggesting that it has "too many battles to fight" to assume the role of Ireland's National Trust was "pure nonsense".
"An Taisce is already the National Trust for Ireland and was recognised as such in the 1963 Planning Act. All we lack is the statutory recognition of our property ownership role and that must be stated in the new legislation."
Mr Ducie said An Taisce had long recognised the fundamental lack of appropriate legislation and made two submissions to the Oireachtas, which included the draft heads of a Bill. On both occasions, it received all-party support.
Mr Ahern's announcement that legislation would be introduced by the end of next year was a "major step forward". But it needed to be "done correctly" by having An Taisce's work in this area established as a statutory body.
Mr Ducie said An Taisce is in the process of setting up a subsidiary, the Heritage Foundation, which would have a board of management with wide-ranging representation. It was this body that should be constituted as the National Trust.
Mr Ducie said An Taisce, which was founded in 1948, is recognised by the international conservation community and Irish environmental organisations as "Ireland's legitimate National Trust".
However, the report that recommended establishing a National Trust said An Taisce "has admitted that, as presently constituted, it is not feasible for it to become the owner of significant amounts of land and property".
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