26/03/2015

'Serious And Unanswered Questions' About Phil Hogan - SF

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said there remains "serious and unanswered questions" around the former Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan's cancellation of inquiries into planning problems at six local authorities.

Speaking at a by-election launch in Carlow, Mr Adams said: "The Carlow/Kilkenny by-election has resulted from the departure of former Environment Minister Phil Hogan to Europe. In many ways, Phil Hogan epitomises what’s wrong with this Government."

"There remain serious and unanswered questions around Phil Hogan's cancellation of inquiries into planning problems at six local authorities this State. This was his first act as Minister when this Government took office.

"This is particularly serious considering the failure to implement key recommendations of the Mahon Tribunal into corruption in the planning system. It’s also widely accepted that corruption in planning was not confined to Dublin.

"Meanwhile revelations that there are no records and no minutes of Phil Hogan’s meetings with the Chairwoman of Bord Gáis - meetings that led to the establishment of Irish Water - raise serious questions for the Government, especially in light of the scandal around the huge sums of public money spent on private consultants.

"There is a better and fairer way of doing things. That is what Sinn Féin offers and that is the platform on which Kathleen Funchion faces into this by-election."

(MH/CD)

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