Taoiseach Asked To Clarify Conflict Of Interest Position

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been urged to clarify if he believes there are conflicts of interest involving An Bord Pleanala.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams made the call saying that there are "major allegations" of irregularities in planning in various parts of the State, adding that Minister Phil Hogan is "fully aware of" these irregularities, but has not dealt with them.

Mr Adams when on to ask the Taoiseach to expand on his reference to positions on state boards being publicly advertising, claiming that the position of Deputy Chairperson of An Bord Pleanala was not advertised.

"The Mahon Tribunal unveiled the reality of a decade of planning corruption. But the Mahon Tribunal findings have not been implemented by this government," Mr Adams said.

Adding: "The Fine Gael/Labour Government cannot portray planning corruption as a Fianna Fáil problem when it does not act to root it out.

"Instead of doing this, the Minister for the Environment has acted to close down scrutiny of the planning process. One of his first acts as Minister was to shut down an inquiry initiated by his predecessor Mr Gormley, into alleged planning irregularities in seven local authority areas.

"An internal review by the Department of the Environment, which was presented as an alternative to the Gormley review, claimed that there was no evidence of wrongdoing in planning.

"Gerard Convie, a senior planner in Donegal provided evidence of planning irregularities and went to the High Court which quashed the review’s section on Donegal. The Department was forced to apologize to Mr Convie. The internal review was discredited and had to be set aside.

"Following this, the Minister of State with responsibility for planning, Jan O’Sullivan announced an independent assessment of planning procedures and practices in the six other local authorities. Over a year later we have still not seen the report of this review."

(MH/CD)