A debate on rural and urban planning ended in uproar at the annual conference of the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) in Letterkenny, Co Donegal yesterday after a senior official from An Taisce was verbally attacked by a number of delegates.
The row flared after a clash between Meath councillor Mr Brian Fitzgerald and An Taisce heritage officer Mr Ian Lumley, one of five speakers on a panel.
Two Leitrim councillors, Mr Michael Colreavy and Ms Mary Bohan, challenged several objections by An Taisce to housing in their area while a Cork councillor, Mr P.J. Sheehan, attacked Mr Lumley over decisions by An Taisce to oppose housing in rural regions in the Cork area.
As the verbal exchanges continued, the session was terminated by the chairwoman, Ms Josephine O'Hare, a Newry councillor.
Amid the exchanges, Mr Lumley disputed the Meath councillor's version of the outcome of a recent legal action over planning and development in Meath. There were claims the judicial decision left the local authority responsible for huge legal costs.
Earlier, in his address to the 600 delegates, Mr Lumley said there were numerous blatant breaches of planning guidelines which concerned An Taisce - some so serious that they led to loss of life.
"Too many planning decisions," he claimed, "are being made by directors of services for planning as a result of undocumented verbal and telephone representation," he said.
He said An Taisce considered there was massive maladministration of the Planning Act and the regulations. Some examples he quoted related to 100 major dumps in Co Wicklow; several illegal diesel stations along the Border; Shannon Airport where there was an emission of raw sewage; and many quarries opened without permission, but used to facilitate local authorities in road building.
Cllr Colreavy told the conference 49 townlands in Leitrim were without a single inhabitant and he blamed An Taisce for the blockage of rural housing.
Cllr Bohan was supported by Cllr Sheehan in claims that An Taisce frequently objected to planning applications without undertaking proper research.
Cllr Michael Donnelly (Dublin) told the delegates there was a real demand for greater architectural skills to help rectify a shortage of residential accommodation in the capital.
Cllr Teresa Ridge (Dublin) suggested the overnight escalation of some house prices in Dublin demanded an inquiry.
• The Department of Transport is drafting new legislation to bring in a system of on-the-spot- fines in the haulage sector, it was revealed yesterday by the Minister of State for Transport, Dr James McDaid. Addressing delegates at the LAMA conference, he said the new laws will enable transport officers and gardaí to impose multiple fines for various offences.