Hogan has serious questions to answer
over planning allegations – Gerry Adams TD
Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams TD has
said that Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has serious questions to
answer in relation to planning allegations and that unless these matters were
clarified, it would be inappropriate for him to be nominated to the position of
EU Commissioner.
Speaking in the Dáil today Gerry
Adams TD said:
“Recently, in what has become a
feature of your Government, Minister Hogan brazenly appointed seven former Fine
Gael and Labour Councillors to state boards. But the Minister is also mired in
controversy when it comes to the planning process.
“Minister Hogan appointed as Deputy
Chairperson of An Bórd Pleanála, an individual who is the former Technical
Director with RPS Consulting Engineers, which framed a series of controversial
projects that have come before An Bord Pleanála. He also extended his term of
office.
“This individual voted to approve
contentious projects, on which RPS were the consultants, which had been
rejected by An Bord Pleanála inspectors. These
include an apartment development in Dun Laoghaire and a sewage treatment scheme
in Donegal. He also recently approved a controversial wind farm at
Cullenagh in County Laois.
“This raises
obvious questions of a conflict of interest.
“RPS Consultants also advised Eirgrid to install overhead
pylons. RPS was also among the consultants employed at a cost of some €85
million by Uisce Éireann, where two former senior executives of RPS now hold
senior positions.”
Mr Adams said that unless these
matters were clarified, it would be inappropriate for the Taoiseach to nominate
Minister Hogan for the position of EU Commissioner.
The Sinn Féin Leader said there were
serious questions that would overshadow any nomination of Minister Hogan as EU
Commissioner unless they were dealt with.
He said:
“Minister Hogan closed down the Inquiry initiated by his
predecessor John Gormley into planning irregularities and alleged planning
corruption in seven local council areas.
“There is an issue concerning
Donegal, where serious allegations have been raised by a senior planner; and in
Wicklow, where the Minister has been made aware of extremely serious
allegations regarding planning irregularities, including the highly
controversial M11 rezoning decision.
“Minister Phil Hogan has been at the
centre of a series of controversies over his mishandling of a range of issues
from Irish Water to the Poolbeg incinerator.”
Gerry Adams said Ireland's nominee
for the position of EU Commissioner would face serious scrutiny at EU level
around their suitability but that there should also be scrutiny of the
suitability of such a nominee by the Dáil?
He urged the Taoiseach to facilitate
such a process so that any nominee can answer questions about their suitability
before they were sent to Europe.
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
Wind turbine battle heading to High Court
Leinster
Express 8/7/2014
In one day people gave €15,000,
according to Henry Fingleton from Ballyroan, a spokesperson for People Over
Wind.
“The level of concern and fear is so
strong that many families are stumping up €1,000 to stop what is seen as an
outrageous and oppressive plan. “People are incensed. The reaction is anger and
deep frustration that their concerns have been completely ignored,” he said.
He says there is shock that An Bord
Pleanála dismissed their own inspectors report, which recommended refusing permission for the 131.5metre tall
turbines.
“For the fifteen families on the Pike
Road who will end up living in a wind farm with turbines 600 metres in front
and behind their houses, this decision is truly tragic,” he said.
The €50,000 legal fee must be raised
within a week, to give their legal team time to form and lodge an appeal before
the eight week deadline.
“We are calling on people for
support, especially from Portlaoise. This is a
gateway project and anyone who cares about Laois should fight to stop it,” he
said.
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
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