Cosgrave discussed Carrickmines with Dunlop - Flood

The Flood tribunal heard today how former Fine Gael senator Mr Liam Cosgrave held a number of meetings with lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop in the early 1990s at which the rezoning of land at Carrickmines in south Dublin was discussed.

Mr Cosgrave, who was a member of Dublin County Council at the time, told the tribunal he became friendly with Mr Dunlop in the early 1980s when the lobbyist worked as a Fianna Fáil press secretary.

The former senator recounted having met Mr Dunlop for a number of lunches in Dublin's Buswells Hotel and a dinner in the exclusive Patrick Guilbaud's restaurant.

When asked by counsel for tribunal Mr John Gallagher who paid for the dinners, Mr Cosgrave said: "He sometimes did and we sometimes did".

Mr Gallagher asked if Mr Dunlop ever requested Mr Cosgrave to vote for any particular project before Dublin County Council.

Mr Cosgrave said Mr Dunlop made representations to him on various projects to which he was connected including lands at Carrickmines, Quarryvale and Baldoyle.

The Senator said Mr Dunlop often outlined what the developers "had mind for a particular area".

Mr Cosgrave said he would then make up his own mind how to vote based on the merits of the plan, taking into account how it would affect the area in question.

Earlier, Mr Cosgrave gave an account of his political career and in particular how he funded various election campaigns to the Dáil, the Seanad and Dublin County Council.

Mr Cosgrave said he financed his campaigns with the help of donations from family and friends. When asked if he solicited money from individuals Mr Cosgrave he would normally just receive campaign contributions.

He said he had not kept records of his campaign donations except for the General Election of 2002 when it was mandatory by law.

Mr Gallagher requested that Mr Cosgrave write down the names of his main contributors for a series of election campaigns in the 1980s and 1990s - at least those he could recall.Mr Cosgrave wrote a number of names on several sheets of paper which were then handed into the tribunal.

Mr Cosgrave continues his evidence tomorrow.