Whip claimed on planning motions

The Flood Tribunal: A Fianna Fáil TD has contradicted political colleagues by saying a strict whip system was in operation on rezoning motions in Dublin County Council in the 1990s.

Mr Charlie O'Connor said there was an understanding that the Fianna Fáil view on rezonings was decided at meetings of party councillors and adhered to in the votes afterwards.

His evidence contrasts with that of other politicians, including his party colleague, Mr Tony Fox, who have insisted that neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael operated a whip.

Mr O'Connor also acknowledged that a system operated whereby councillors were called upon to propose rezoning motions in areas far from their electoral base.

This was done for "political motives" to take the pressure off the councillors in the area in which the rezoning was taking place.

Mr O'Connor's evidence is consistent with that of Mr Frank Dunlop, who maintained that these two features were essential components of the "system" then operating on the council.

In May 1992 Mr O'Connor signed a motion calling for the rezoning of land owned by Mr Brian O'Halloran, Mr Gerard Kilcoyne and Prof Austin Darragh at Carrickmines in south Co Dublin.

Mr O'Connor, who represented Tallaght on the council, acknowledged yesterday that he knew nothing about the lands.

He signed the motion merely to facilitate discussion on the council after he was asked to do so by a Fine Gael councillor, Mr Tom Hand, he said.

"My only motive was to facilitate discussion for a colleague," Mr O'Connor said.

He was just a "bit-player" who was "brand-new" to the council and finding his way in politics.

"Did you see nothing wrong at the time in proposing a matter about which you knew nothing?" asked Judge Alan Mahon. "You hadn't a clue where the lands were."

Mr O'Connor said he would deal with matters differently now, but at the time he did not see anything wrong with it.

Was this not a serious indictment of the system? asked Judge Mahon. Mr O'Connor said that this was the system that was in place.

The motion signed by Mr O'Connor was withdrawn, but a month later, in June 1992, he was one of 24 councillors who voted for the rezoning of land owned by Jackson Way in Carrickmines. This proposal was defeated by two votes.

Asked to explain why he voted for this motion, he said: "There was an understanding that you were in a political party and you voted with your colleagues."

He said he did not know Mr Dunlop was acting for any of the land-owners in Carrickmines. He knew Mr Dunlop but was not close to him.

Mr O'Connor said he was "pro-development". His political view was that development would create infrastructure and jobs. The views of the planners often turned out to be wrong.

The tribunal has adjourned until Tuesday, April 29th.