TD claims people do not trust the planning process

PEOPLE believe the planning process “is still not as clean as it should be” — despite the ongoing work of the Mahon Planning Tribunal, Labour TD Sean Ryan said yesterday.

The tribunal is investigating a controversial Dublin Co Council motion to rezone 70 acres, owned by the Christian Brothers at Balheary in north Dublin. Mr Ryan voted against the motion in May 1993.

Earlier this week former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke told the tribunal he was “vehemently opposed” — as were 600 local people — to the rezoning.

Mr Ryan said it was one of the few occasions relating to planning where he and Mr Burke agreed.

From about 1992 there would have been a perception that councillors were getting contributions, said Mr Ryan. He got unsolicited contributions.

“I am satisfied that if I was getting them, other councillors were getting them as well.”

Mr Ryan disclosed he has kept cheques that developers sent him as unsolicited political donations more than 20 years ago. The nine cheques ranged from £100 to £500 each.

When he entered public life he and his wife decided never to accept political gifts. “I think, in retrospect, it was the best decision we ever took. I got on just as well without them,” said Mr Ryan, who has represented the Swords area since 1983 either on the council or in the Dáil.

In the late 1980s, he recalled, “another developer came to my house one night looking to have his land rezoned. He was making the case that financially he was in a bad way and that it was important to get this land in.

“It was said, more or less, that it was expensive to run elections. And when I heard this I said ‘you have gone far enough, I don’t go down that road’. I opened the door and nearly threw him out.”

He had heard councillors discuss how their votes were making millionaires out of developers “and there is nothing in it for us.”

Regarding newspaper allegations in July 1993 about money in brown bags, Mr Ryan said: “The dogs in the street were of the opinion that contributions were being made and that there was corruption in the planning process.”

Therese Ridge, a Fine Gael councillor, said she was “totally shocked” when lobbyist Frank Dunlop — who helped promote the Balheary rezoning — alleged in April 2000 he bribed councillors.

“I was shocked entirely at the whole thing,” she told tribunal member Judge Gerald Keys. Since then she had not met Mr Dunlop, who had been a close friend.

Questioned by Judge Keys if she had heard rumours of improper payments to councillors, she said she had not.

The tribunal adjourned until Tuesday.