THE recommendations of the Mahon Tribunal Report with regard to the planning system, will inform the thinking of Jan O’Sullivan, Minister for Housing and Planning, who says: “I am adamant that no ambiguity can be allowed to exist as regard the roles of the minister or the elected member in the planning system, and tribunal recommendations will inform my thinking in this regard and after considering the entire report and its recommendations, I will bring forward proposed reforms for discussion with colleagues”.
Speaking as the minister responsible for planning, she said the evidence given during the hearings and conclusions of the report have rightly appointed blame to those who received corrupt payments, frustrated the work of the tribunal and undermined the panning process.
“Planning corruption is not a faceless crime, it affects the welfare of families and communities for decades and I’m determined to act on its conclusions to ensure that our planning system is designed and operated in the interests of the country and the community,” she said.
Denouncing as a “disaster” developer-led planning, Minister O’Sullivan said that confidence in the planning system needs to be rebuilt.
“Some progress has been made in this regard but more needs to be done, and I will drive that important agenda, with colleagues in government.
“How we plan for future communities, commercial development, and infrastructure has a direct bearing on our quality of life, our economic recovery, and our environmental sustainability. – we must get it right”.
Stressing the need for action to be taken on the report ‘s findings, the minister is recommending that following government consideration it should be forwarded to the DPP, the Garda Commissioner, the Revenue Commissioners and the Standards in Public Office Commission, as appropriate.
“The tribunal has taken 15 years and the eventual costs are a genuine cause of public concern which I share.
“We need methods of inquiry that can produce answers to issues of immediate public concern in a timely and cost-effective fashion - some of those methods are now available to us, and the cumbersome tribunal process may well be a thing of the past”.
