Rich property developers are "hardly in a position to lecture people" about making a special amenity area order for Howth, according to Mr Sean Kenny, one of the Labour TDs for Dublin North East. He was commenting on a statement yesterday by Mr Richard Barrett, of Treasury Holdings Ltd owner of 300 acres on Howth's East Mountain in which he threatened a constitutional action if a protection order was made.
Mr Kenny said Mr Barrett "bought that land in the full knowledge of its high amenity zoning. If he was hoping to have it rezoned for development, who did he think was going to do this for him?"