Gormley accused of ‘hiding’ docklands report

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley was accused by the Opposition of hiding a report on the operations of the troubled Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) for political reasons.

Fine Gael reacted with suspicion after former Green Party Senator Déirdre de Búrca specifically mentioned the report in her resignation letter to her party leader, Mr Gormley.

“I am aware that you as minister have a key report in front of you from Dr Niamh Brennan on the issue of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. I’m afraid I lack the confidence that the findings of this report will be acted on in the timely and appropriate manner that the public interest requires,” the letter said. Ms de Búrca said this was an example of how the party is seen to have “lost the courage of our convictions and have become no more than an obedient ‘add-on’ to Fianna Fáil”.