Cringing comments have implications

The Taoiseach’s extraordinary boast on Capitol Hill in Washington that, as Tourism Minister, he made representations on behalf of Donald Trump in relation to Doonbeg Golf Course needs urgent explanation on a number of fronts.

First of all, Mr Varadkar must be aware that, as our country’s representative while in Washington, he should at all times retain the dignity accorded his position. An attempt to cravenly ingratiate himself with President Trump or any other world leader is not the way to go about it.

Like a schoolboy bragging about how well he had done, the Taoiseach related how he received a phone call from Mr Trump, who expressed concern at plans to build a windfarm near his hotel and golf course, arguing that it would interfere with the area’s natural beauty and, by implication, his efforts to attract business.

“So I endeavoured to do what I could do about it and I rang the county council and inquired about the planning permission and subsequently the planning permission was declined and the wind farm was never built,” Mr Varadkar told guests that included members of Congress as well as President Trump.

He then made a cringe-inducing acknowledgement that “the President has very kindly given me credit” for the fact that his intervention resulted in the refusal of planning for the windfarm, even though it clearly didn’t.

The council refused planning in October 2014 and An Bord Pleanála upheld that decision in July 2015 due to the impact the wind farm would have on fresh-water pearl mussel in the Doonbeg river. It had nothing to do with its effects on the landscape or the golf course.

Secondly, the Taoiseach’s words were not only foolish but they may also be dangerous and have wider implications. Admitting to an even unsuccessful attempt to intervene in such a way will undoubtedly damage the integrity of our planning process.

Considering our history of planning scandals, the Taoiseach will have been aware at the time — and now — that any intervention a government minister makes with regard to a planning application is bound to cause concern.

Clare County Council says it has no record of any phone call or intervention from him on the matter but Clare Coastal Wind Power, the company that was refused planning, is naturally furious as the whole process cost them €500,000.

Thirdly, the response from the Government press office, that Mr Varadkar’s action was “normal politics” and “entirely routine”, is not sustainable and betrays either an ignorance or an arrogance to what is acceptable in public life.

“It was raised with him and he sought a brief on it and that was the end of the matter — full stop,” said a Government spokesman.

It is wholly improper for a government minister to try to influence a planning process on behalf of a billionaire businessman. It is wholly shameful that, four years on as Taoiseach, he should endorse and — indeed — boast about that practice.

Despite the Government’s attitude, this is not and must not be the end of the matter.