An Taisce: why in a democracy should so few people have so much power?

I REFER to An Taisce’s recent ‘unreserved’ apology to journalist Fintan O’Toole for describing his plan for his holiday home in Co Clare as ‘criminal’ and an ‘infection’ on the landscape.

I can understand why An Taisce should apologise for their use of language, but can we have an explanation as to why their underlying objection to Mr O’Toole was withdrawn?

One can only assume they are now perfectly happy with his planning application. They say that “sometimes submissions from local affiliates... reflect a more emotional expression of planning matters as they are felt locally”.