Fine Gael ail to announce quick action in relation to planning scandals by is threatening the political careers of a prominent senator and two of its councillors who have failed to give full information to a party inquiry. The move puts pressure on Fianna Fail to announce quick action in relation to planning scandals.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said last night he would seek to prevent Senator Liam Cosgrave, Cllr Cathal Boland and Cllr Ann Devitt - the leader of the Fine Gael group on Dublin County Council at the time of the Dunlop payments - from standing for the party in any future Dail election unless they provide more information on donations they have received from builders, developers or their agents.
Mr Bruton also said he would now support the Labour Party motion, for debate next Tuesday, seeking a ban on corporate donations to politicians and political parties. Mr Bruton has previously said he would support a cap on such donations at £3,000, but said yesterday he would consider a lower ceiling.
The Taoiseach meet Mr Bruton and Labour leader Mr Ruairi Quinn on Monday in an attempt to seek consensus on the issue, as politicians rush to react to the revelations from the Flood tribunal.
Last night, Mr Pat Rabbitte TD of Labour rejected as "ludicrous" suggestions that a £5,000 donation to him by the promoters of the Citywest business park was designed to influence his decision the following year to locate the National Science Park there. When he received the donation, the prospect of his being in government the following year was remote.
Mr Bruton's sanctions against three of his party's public representatives followed the revelation that Fine Gael's deputy leader, chief whip, two other deputies and two senators received donations from Mr Frank Dunlop.
The revelation came in the report published yesterday of the internal Fine Gael inquiry, prompted by Mr Dunlop's claim last month that he had paid 16 councillors who supported the Quarryvale rezoning.
The six Fine Gael Oireachtas members told the party inquiry, chaired by Mr James Nugent SC, that the donations were political contributions, and had not influenced their votes.
They are: Deputy Leader Ms Nora Owen TD (between £750 and £1,250); Chief Whip Mr Sean Barrett TD (between £500 and £1000); Mr Michael Joe Cosgrave TD (£1,000); and Ms Olivia Mitchell TD (up to £750); Senator Therese Ridge (£1,000) ; and Senator Liam Cosgrave (between £3,000 and £3,500 in three donations over a seven-year period).
Two further councillors, Ms Anne Devitt and Ms Sheila Terry (formerly a Progressive Democrats councillor) also admitted receiving support from Mr Dunlop, while 16 councillors or former councillors said they had received money from other builders, developers or their agents.
In some cases these were modest amounts of under £500, but many were larger, and came from those who sought to benefit substantially from rezoning motions.
Mr Cosgrave and Mr Boland last night rejected suggestions that donations they received were in exchange for their votes.
In a statement last night, Ms Devitt said: "I am appalled that my integrity has been brought into question as a result of the way the findings of the Fine Gael internal investigation were released. I have no option but to seek legal advice on the matter.
"Over the years the way I carried out my duties as a Fine Gael councillor and how I represented my constituents has always been above reproach. I will leave no stone unturned therefore until I have my name cleared".
Former Fine Gael councillor Mr Tom Morrissey, now a PD, said last night he was "appalled and dismayed" by the presentation in the Fine Gael report of the evidence he gave.