News

Roscommon action appropriate says Ahern

Thursday, 18 December 2003 20:12

The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that his office acted entirely appropriately when it asked planning officials in Co Roscommon to suspend an enforcement notice against the owners of a quarry.

Mr Ahern has strongly denied that he interfered in the planning process by making the request.

He said he had simply asked for the enforcement order to be put on hold until the individual involved - who was ill with cancer - was well enough to deal with it.

The matter was raised by Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen, who claimed that the letter to the Council planning official 'could be seen as intimidation'.

The Taoiseach said that while he had not signed the letter personally, he took full responsibility for it.

Mr Ahern said it was a 'blatant distortion' to represent his actions as an attempt to interfere in the planning process, adding that he was 'saddened' to see the Opposition try to make political capital out of a compassionate gesture.

He also defended the failure of the Government Press Office to find the letter involved when asked by a journalist from the Irish Independent, saying this was because of the inadequate information supplied.

Ahern did not sign letter - Brady

This morning, Fianna Fáil senator Cyprian Brady, who runs the Taoiseach's Dublin constituency office, confirmed that Mr Ahern did not personally sign the letter.

Earlier today in the Dáil, opposition party efforts to raise the Taoiseach's involvement in the matter were ruled out of order.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny had sought an extension of today's sitting to allow the Taoiseach to make a statement on the allegations, contained in today's Irish Independent newspaper.

The Labour leader Pat Rabbitte and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent supported the move.