‘Lack of sanctions over planning corruption’

PLANNING corruption has created hundreds of thousands of victims, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said yesterday, pointing an accusing finger at the Taoiseach for failing to sanction Fianna Fáil members involved.

“These victims are mainly ordinary taxpayers fleeced by the big developer friends of ‘Bertie the Builder’. Many of these house-buyer victims are now heavily indebted families with no option but to live far away from jobs, shops and essential services,” Mr Sargent said.

“Meanwhile, sitting members of the Taoiseach’s own party in the Oireachtas are suffering from collective amnesia regarding what payments they received and when.”

The Dáil last night began debating a motion tabled by the Greens which calls for the House to condemn corruption and commit to improved planning. The debate will continue tonight.

To prevent future corruption, the Greens want An Bord Pleanála to vet rezoning decisions made by local authorities.

The party says the board should have the power to overrule decisions if they contravene sustainable development principles.

“The motion reflects an anger and frustration which is widespread at the lack of censure for corruption uncovered by the Mahon Tribunal,” Mr Sargent said.

“Instead of censure, we see the Government declare it cannot comment on the blatant revelations of corruption, claiming deference to the interminable tribunal process.

“If the Government will not instruct self-confessed bribe recipients to stand aside, then the public needs to hand down a clear verdict if politics is to have any standards worth talking about.”

Green Party chair John Gormley questioned why PD leader and Tánaiste Mary Harney had not questioned the bona fides of her party’s partner in government.

“In the last Dáil, Mary Harney said she had full confidence in Ray Burke. We know now that this confidence was misplaced. Is Mary Harney now saying that she has full confidence in all her Fianna Fáil colleagues who conveniently could not remember getting substantial donations and who now assert that, if they did get them, there were no favours done in return?”

Mr Gormley said Fianna Fáil was hoping it could escape punishment at the polls despite the damaging evidence that has emerged at the tribunal.

“The impression I get is that, in some ways, Bertie knows that there’s a certain tribunal fatigue out there, that the public aren’t keeping their eye on the ball, so therefore [Fianna Fáil] possibly can get away with this.”