Mick Clifford: Conclusions of An Bord Pleanála inquiry raise more questions than answers

Inquiry into allegations against director of planning Rachel Kenny took place months ago but very little is known about how it was commissioned, what its terms of reference were, or how it reached its conclusions

Allegations against Rachel Kenny included that she may have a conflict of interest in cases she was involved in which were geographically close to her home, and, most serious of all, that she represented ABP in a case where her husband was part of an applicant team for planning permission.

Sometimes, coming right out and telling all kills a controversy. Sometimes, coming out and telling just a little ensures the controversy persists, raises further questions, and can often turn into something more serious.

Last Friday, the chair of An Bord Pleanála, Dave Walsh, admitted he had commissioned an inquiry into allegations against the board’s director of planning, Rachel Kenny.