Opposition criticise Taoiseach over re-zoning allegations

The Labour Party’s Spokesman on the Environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said today that allegations that Mr Paddy Duffy had made a series of phone-calls from the Taoiseach’s office urging Fianna Fáil councillors to vote in favour of a North Dublin rezoning, is a matter of the "utmost seriousness" that requires an immediate response.

"What is at issue here is not the rights or wrongs of the individual rezoning proposal, but the fact that a key advisor and political associate of the Taoiseach should be using the political authority of the Taoiseach's office to lobby councillors to vote in a particular way," said Mr Gilmore.

He went on to say that it was "almost beyond belief" that such a key figure in the Taoiseach's office should be involving himself in such a controversial planning issue.

"The Taoiseach must make a full statement as to whether this was done with his knowledge or whether Mr Duffy, at a time when he was a political employee of the Taoiseach, was simultaneously pursuing other business interests," he said.

Green Party Leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, has demanded that Taoiseach clarify immediately the reasons why Mr Duffy was allowed to canvass the councillors.

"The question everyone wants answered is this – on whose behalf was Paddy Duffy canvassing for?," said Mr Sargent.

Socialist Party TD, Mr Joe Higgins, also called for the Taoiseach to answer questions on the development, which was in Santry Woods.

"Santry Woods should have been maintained as a green lung between Dublin city and the county and airport and could have been an important public resource for the ever-expanding city. As usual, however, establishment politicians voted to suit the developers," said Mr Higgins.

The land in question was successfully rezoned in 1998.