Treacy expresses regret over tribunal leak remarks

JUNIOR Minister Noel Treacy yesterday said he regretted creating the impression someone within the Mahon Planning Tribunal was responsible for leaking confidential information about payments to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

He told the tribunal he had no evidence to back up his claim that a well-known source inside the inquiry was constantly leaking information for political purposes.

Mr Treacy said he had been referring to a perception that there had been a worrying amount of leaking of confidential information. Despite inquiries, no one had been identified as the source.

But he agreed under questioning by tribunal lawyer Des O’Neill SC, that the integrity of the tribunal was of critical importance. He regretted his remarks would have “produced the mindset” that any tribunal personnel were responsible for the leaks.

“I regret I have no knowledge of any individual whatever,” Mr Treacy conceded during his embarrassing 20-minute appearance in the witness box.

Mr Treacy — who is Minister for European Affairs — explained the early morning radio interview was arranged to discuss EU enlargement and he was not expecting to be asked about the payments made to Mr Ahern when Minister for Finance in 1994.

During the interview, on NewsTalk 106 on September 26, Mr Treacy claimed it was well known the planning tribunal was “leaking like a sieve”.

Later, speaking to journalists outside the tribunal, the minister repeated there was constant leaking — “up to seven leaks from the tribunal” over the years — and that would worry him as a legislator.

Earlier, when tribunal council put it to Mr Treacy he was not in a position to give factual evidence to support his allegation, the minister agreed.

And Mr Treacy acknowledged a distinction existed between leaks from the tribunal and leaks of confidential tribunal material.

Asked what was the basis of fact for his statement that an identifiable tribunal source was responsible for leaking the information, Mr Treacy replied: “It is said it is well known. I do not have personal knowledge, nor do I have the person’s name.”

The tribunal yesterday concluded direct evidence into the rezoning of the Cargobridge lands.