Tánaiste reveals suspicions over land re-zoning

Tánaiste Mary Harney today revealed she had concerns and suspicions about the dealings of Dublin City councillors over controversial land re-zoning in the late 1980s.

Insisting that she played no part in the decision to re-zone farmland at Ballycullen, Ms Harney told the Planning Tribunal it was inevitable that the land would be turned over to other uses.

In response to a question from inquiry chairman Judge Alan Mahon, the Tánaiste said a number of her colleagues, including current government chief whip Tom Kitt and former Minister of State and Fianna Fáil TD Chris Flood, had the same worries.

“We had concerns,” the Tánaiste told the inquiry. “There were suspicions to be honest. There were people that had lifestyles that were incompatible with their incomes.”

Judge Mahon and a number of the country’s top lawyers are investigating claims by lobbyist Frank Dunlop that nine Dublin city councillors were bribed to secure the re-zoning of land at Ballycullen, South Dublin.

The inquiry is also endeavouring to uncover whether political donations of over IR£45,000 were made by land owner Christopher Jones and his companies to 20 politicians.

Mr Jones has denied payments were part of an elaborate attempt to secure the re-zoning.

Ms Harney also told the tribunal that her party received a donation of IR£1,270 from Mr Jones to fund their 2002 General Election campaign, but she denied it had any links to land re-zoning.

Records from the PDs confirmed the money had been sent to the party and Ms Harney’s name was associated with the payment.

The Tánaiste told the tribunal: “What I am certain of is that the money was sent to the party nationally, and lodged with the party for the 2002 general election.”

In less than half an hour in the witness box, Ms Harney also told the inquiry that she had little or no dealings with the late Liam Lawlor – the controversial former Fianna Fáil TD who was killed in a fatal car crash in Moscow last year.

“Myself and Mr Lawlor did not have much of a relationship since some time in the mid 1980s I’m afraid,” the Tanaiste said.

“I don’t think I would have been the person he would have been seeking support from in a direct sense in any event.”

The Tánaiste was also asked about a series of meetings which allegedly took place between herself and land owner Mr Jones, the financial controller of the Jones Group, Derry Hussey, and her dealings with Mr Dunlop in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

She told the tribunal that, as 14 to 15 years had elapsed, she could not fully recall all the meetings.

Ms Harney insisted that if lobbyists or donors had approached her about land she would have asked city councillors to deal with the matter.

After her evidence to the inquiry, Ms Harney defended the use of political donations to cover election expenses.

“Clearly there were pros and cons with the rezoning. Rezoning is never popular with people that live in the local area but yet we know we have to rezone lands,” she said.

“The city was moving out in that direction. Certainly a lot of land in the vicinity was being rezoned but I didn’t participate or take a position in relation to the rezoning.”

Ms Harney admitted meeting the people involved in the Ballycullen rezoning and she agreed that it was inevitable the lands would have to be turned over for residential or industrial uses.

But she denied there were any links between donations to her party and rezoning.

“Political fundraising is the norm and we have to raise money to run an election campaign, but there is no question of the Progressive Democrats accepting money in lieu of favours or anything of that kind.”

The Tánaiste added that the PDs had, on occasion, returned money to donors when there were strings attached.