Cullen denies claims of ‘insufficient expertise’

ENVIRONMENT Minister Martin Cullen has denied opposition claims that he has insufficient expertise to make planning decisions.

The comments by Labour Environment spokesman Eamonn Gilmore came after it was revealed Minister Cullen failed to act in almost one-third of cases where he had been urged by his department's heritage officials to appeal planning cases to An Bord Pleanála.

"This claim is absolute nonsense. I am elected by the people and appointed to Government to make decisions. I am a guardian of the public interest and have to balance the competing elements. Otherwise we should just be electing professionals and there would be no need for Government at all," Mr Cullen said.