Planning system reputation not fully recovered, says TD

The reputation of the planning system in Dublin has not completely recovered from the early 1990s when it was described by a government minister as a "debased currency" the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday.

Giving evidence in relation to attempts by the Christian Brothers to have their agricultural lands at Balheary, Swords, rezoned for housing, north Dublin TD Seán Ryan recalled a series of Irish Timesarticles of July 1993 which suggested corruption was rife in the planning process.

He also recalled comments of the then minister for the environment, Michael Smith, to the effect that planning in Dublin had become "a debased currency".

Mr Ryan told tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon that he retained nine uncashed cheques given to him by property developers and builders, ostensibly political donations, from his period on Dublin County Council.

He said he and his wife, Patricia, had taken a decision early in his public life that they would not accept political donations which might compromise his independence at any stage. It was, he said, "the best decision I ever made in my political life".

But he recalled that in relation to the Balheary lands other councillors had suggested their rezon- ing against the strong wishes of the local community. These included councillors Jim Fahey, Ned Ryan, Betty Coffey, Séamus Brock and Don Lydon who signed but subsequently withdrew a motion proposing their rezoning in 1991.

Mr Ryan said many controversial rezoning motions were signed by councillors from outside the area which, he said, was an attempt to take pressure off councillors who lived within the area and who would come under strong local pressure.

He said he was disappointed by the number of times councillors, "Fianna Fáil councillors and some Fine Gael councillors", would adjourn to Conways pub to consider their agendas and return to vote en bloc, without having heard any of the contributions to the debate.

Documents produced at the tribunal yesterday revealed that in May 1993 all Fianna Fáil and a number of Fine Gael councillors voted to rezone the lands.

But in September of that year, after a period of public consultation, Mr Ryan and Cllr Tom Kelleher succeeded in having that vote overturned.

Giving her evidence to the tribunal Therese Ridge said she had been elected to the council in 1984 but had never heard any rumours of corruption until April 2000 when Mr Dunlop had alleged he had bribed councillors.

She said money she received from Mr Dunlop and property developer Joe Tiernan represented unsolicited political donations at election times.