21st January 2004

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR PROSECUTIONS IN WAKE OF PLANNING TRIBUNAL’S THIRD REPORT

The Green Party has welcomed today’s publication of the Third Interim Report of the Planning Tribunal.

"The Report reveals shocking attempts to hinder and obstruct the work of the Tribunal", stated Green Party leader Trevor Sargent TD, "It also exposes the massive payments that were made to George Redmond over the years.

"Twenty years ago £25,000 would have paid for a house. This was the scale of the payments that were being made on an ongoing basis. We are calling for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Martin Cullen TD to bring forward proposals to better regulate the activities of senior officials in Local Authorities.

"This latest report further exposes the degree of underhandedness and corruption that passed as the planning system in Dublin over the last three decades. Time after time we have read newspaper reports of the systematic obstruction of the work of the Planning Tribunal. The Green Party are now calling for prosecutions of all those listed in this latest report who have obstructed the workings of the tribunal."

Green Party Planning Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated, "Minutes should be kept of all meetings between senior Local Authority staff and developers, and should made public. We also want a Declaration of Interests to be made annually by all senior Local Authority staff. Greater transparency is the key to ensuring that the risks of corruption are minimised.

ENDS