Sir, - I am bemused by the attitude of conservationists on this issue. Bord Pleanala, a statutory corporation under a 1976 Act, is not a judicial body like the Supreme Court, which could be trusted to evaluate carefully a planning proposal deficient on so many grounds. This proposes to gut/demolish within, or otherwise to play merry hell with, 11 carefully listed Grade I and Grade 2 buildings forming the core of Dublin's architectural heritage, and right at the very moment when our gallant Minister Michael is trying to rally the forces to "obtain a broad census on conservation".
It is not the role of An Bord Pleanala to prevent the intended rampage. An Bord Pleanala is a Government quango, one of dozens, with an obscure membership and no real democratic control; it is, as I say, a quango, a carefully chosen and experienced quango. Now and again it comes down on the side of right, on the side of the angels, as in the Bray shopping centre case, or on the Delgany housing issue where a Coalition TD's seat may have been endangered.
Yes, that is perfectly in order, and An Bord Pleanala can be trusted to act properly and bask in the kudos. But, my goodness, a proposal by Hilton National of Watford, and in hand with Mr John Ronan of Treasury and partnered by Allied Irish Banks - now that is a different matter. An Bord Pleanala acted quite rightly in clutching at, and damn the cost, this lusty international developer. In these circumstances, it acted upon a very wise maxim; namely, what is good for General Motors is good for the US. - Le deagh mheinn,
Marlborough Road,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.