O’Keeffe attacks Roche on Ikea

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche was yesterday publicly challenged by party colleague Ned O’Keeffe as an internal Fianna Fáil row over the decision to change the planning laws for superstores continues.

In a heated exchange during yesterday’s Oireachtas Enterprise and Small Business committee, Mr O’Keeffe criticised the decision, saying the arrival of massive stores, such as the Ikea outlet planned for Ballymun, would have a “hoover affect” on existing stores.

Mr O’Keeffe, who has already clashed with Mr Roche twice on the issue during private Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meetings, also rejected the argument that the Ikea store in Ballymun would serve to assist the regeneration of the area.