Fine Gael has called for an inquiry into allegations that a former special advisor to the Taoiseach lobbied Fianna Fáil councillors about a rezoning decision in north Dublin. However, Bertie Ahern told RTÉ that he knew nothing about the matter, and that his former advisor, Paddy Duffy, did not phone councillors on his instructions.
Fingal County Council voted to rezone part of the wooded area of Santry demesne for housing, offices and commercial development in 1998. Although there was opposition to the proposal from some local residents, the rezoning motion was supported by 14 councillors, with five against.
Today, the Irish Independent claimed that Paddy Duffy, at the time a special advisor to the Taoiseach, had lobbied a number of Fianna Fáil councillors on the issue, urging them to support the rezoning. Opposition parties say they are concerned by the allegation, and want the matter investigated.
This morning, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was dealing with smaller trees than the ones in Santry Woods, but he said he knew nothing about the matter. He said he did not instruct Paddy Duffy to make the series of phone calls.
Paddy Duffy was not available for interview today, but RTÉ News understands that he did contact several members of Fingal County Council about the Santry Demesne issue, although this does not appear to have affected the outcome.
The rezoning was proposed by Council management and supported by councillors from the four main parties. But with an election on the horizon, the opposition parties are likely to pursue the issue.
