Mick Clifford: Reform of An Bord Pleanála must amount to more than mere spin and promises

The minister is talking tough about issues at An Bord Pleanála. Let’s see how serious the Government’s attempt to reform it will be, writes Special Correspondent Mick Clifford

Official reviews of An Bord Pleanála going back as far as 2009 — not to mention reports in the 'Irish Examiner' by Mick Clifford and Cianan Brennan among others — have been ignored until now. Stock picture

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien is running to stand still on the An Bord Pleanála debacle. On Monday, he announced that a report into allegations about Paul Hyde was being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Hyde, the deputy chair of An Bord Pleanála until his resignation last month, acted in his quasi-judicial role on a number of occasions in instances where a conflict of interest may be at issue.