Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte has denied that he ever discussed the rezoning of lands in south Dublin with lobbyist Frank Dunlop.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Mr Rabbitte said that evidence given by Mr Dunlop to the tribunal today contradicts previous interviews in which the lobbyist said that Mr Rabbitte had never voted for anything he was promoting.
Mr Dunlop said he mentioned Mr Rabbitte's support for the rezoning of lands at Ballycullen when he gave him a £3,000 cash payment.
He claimed the money was readily accepted by Mr Rabbitte in November 1992 shortly after that year's Dáil election was announced.
He rejected Mr Rabbitte’s claim that he told Mr Dunlop he would have to discuss the issue with his then colleagues in Democratic Left because the party had a procedure for dealing with donations.
Mr Dunlop said that was highly illogical and asked why Mr Rabbitte accepted the money if such procedures were in place.
He added that he told Mr Rabbitte that he wanted to make a £3,000 donation towards election expenses on behalf of a small number of clients and mentioned his support for the Ballycullen rezoning.
Under questioning by Patricia Dillon, SC for the tribunal, Mr Dunlop said he would not get into a dispute with Mr Rabbitte who claimed the amount was £2,000 and pointed out this had been returned by cheque.
He said he had not asked Mr Rabbitte to do anything improper and was not casting any aspersions on him.
However, in answer to Judge Gerard Keyes, he said the donation would not have been made if Mr Rabbitte had voted against the Ballycullen rezoning.
Mr Dunlop insisted this was not an improper payment despite telling the tribunal previously that all cash payments were corrupt.
Promise to residents
Earlier, Mr Dunlop described how he promised south Dublin residents low density housing and 140 acres of amenity space in exchange for support for the rezoning of land at Ballycullen.
The tribunal heard the land was rezoned in October 1992 against the advice of the county manager. The manager had said housing was planned in a neighbouring area and that Ballycullen was more suited for industrial use.
Mr Dunlop, who says he paid around £11,000 in bribes to nine councillors for their support, says the rezoning was supported by residents in nearby Firhouse on the basis that it would be for around 360 houses and include 140 acres of facilities including a golf course and sports centre.
The development, eventually named Woodstown, was to comprise 1,300 houses and 11 acres were given for playing pitches.
