MOTORISTS on the Stillorgan Road are bemused and the Portuguese ambassador is more than a little miffed by posters put up by a Dun Laoghaire Fianna Fail councillor accusing Portugal of holding up a road widening project.
The posters, erected by Cllr Larry Butler, accuse the Portuguese embassy of being a "bad neighbour" for not ceding part of its grounds for a long delayed scheme to widen the N11 in Foxrock, between Knocksinna and White's Cross.
This narrow stretch of road is Ireland's first dual carriageway, with a longsuffering hedge in the middle. Dating from the 1950s, it has become the last remaining bottleneck on the much upgraded N11 between Donnybrook and Bray.
For years, it has been earmarked for improvement. But although compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) could be served on other affected landowners, no such action could be taken regarding the Portuguese embassy at Knocksinna House.
Under the diplomaticcode, it is technically foreign territory - a little piece of Portugal in Fox rock - and all negotiations for the acquisition of its frontage have to be handled through the Department of Foreign Affairs. This delicate process has been under way for 12 years, spanning the terms of office of several Portuguese ambassadors. One complicating factor is that Knocksinna House is also their residence and its tennis court is at stake.
Many approaches were made to the embassy offering Portugal an alternative property of equivalent value. Officials regularly scoured the property market to find another premises which might be acceptable in Lisbon.
Consideration was given to going ahead with the rest of the road widening scheme, leaving the embassy jutting out, but this was rejected because it might have caused accidents.
During Ireland's EU Presidency, there was "a certain amount of political shunting, with Portuguese ministers being buttonholed about the problem", according to sources, and there are signs that this may have had an influence.
The Portuguese ambassador has warned, however, that the latest round of negotiations could be compromised by Mr Butler's "very unjust and unfair" poster campaign. "It could affect the goodwill of my government," he said.
The campaign was "dangerous", said Mr Manuel Lopes da Costa. "If this councillor doesn't like my country, that is his problem. But doing this while we are negotiating with your Government is just not helpful.
"During 12 years, nobody arrived at a solution. But I am prepared to negotiate to give part of the garden and I'm being publicly criticised," said the ambassador.
Mr Lopes da Costa said he understood why Mr Butler was running this campaign - "because he wants to be re elected". However, he found it "very strange that this gentleman, or the Dun Laoghaire municipality, never contacted me".
He also disputed the Fianna Fail councillor's claim that the embassy would be required to cede only 10 metres of land. "In fact, we would lose 1,000 square metres, which is quite different, and practically for nothing.
The National Roads Authority estimates that widening the short stretch of road between Knocksinna and White's Cross will cost up to £5 million - the bulk of it for property acquisition in one of Dublin's richer suburbs.
"It's a bottleneck we would like to clear, a bloody awful piece of road that's crying out to be done," said the NRA's chief executive, Mr Michael Tobin.
However, even if a deal is done with Portugal, it could take some time. Work is under way on the Leopardstown Road, including a realignment of the White's Cross junction. But with the Southern Cross and South Eastern Motorway also on its agenda, Dun Laoghaire may have to wait for funding to do the N11.
