Cosgrave defends rezoning vote

Former Fine Gael TD Liam Cosgrave has defended his decision to support rezoning motions in the late 1990s relating to land in Carrickmines, Co Dublin, despite the county manager's view that the land was unsuitable for industrial development.

Mr Cosgrave told the Flood Tribunal today that he took several factors into account when deciding on his vote, including a 1990 report calling for general development in the Carrickmines valley and the need for jobs in the area.

Former political lobbyist Frank Dunlop has already told the tribunal that he bribed Mr Cosgrave to vote in favour of a number of rezoning motions relating to the land at Carrickmines, which is at the centre of the tribunal's current inquiries.