Madam, – I refer to the article “Hogan to review 2010 planning legislation”(Home News, March 23rd) which details how Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan is to look into the planning legislation of 2010.
He could with considerable justification broaden his review to include the whole planning process.
The planning scandals of the past decade clearly indicate that our county councillors, many of whom double as auctioneers, are not fit for purpose in any matters concerning planning and rezoning. The doubling up of elected representative and auctioneer gives rise to a glaring conflict of interest, which no doubt is regularly abused.
What must happen before the government of the day will take the appropriate action to remedy this state of affairs? Such decisions should be vested in the officials of the planning authorities exclusively and decisions should be made in a forum open to the public on set days of the year.
If any such planning official is caught taking backhanders, digouts, or bribes, (call it what you like), that person would face dismissal from the authority and the prospect of a jail sentence. – Yours, etc,