An Bord Pleanála chairperson Dave Walsh announces early retirement

The board of An Bord Pleanála has been beset by a litany of problems around conflicts of interests, interference in inspectors' reports and highly unorthodox composition of decision-making bodies. 

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) chairperson Dave Walsh is to take early retirement from his role within the board for "personal and family reasons", it's been announced.

It follows months of media and political pressure over revelations of malpractice and misgovernance in the organisation.