An Bord Pleanála is holding a hearing this afternoon into plans by the Swedish furniture giant, Ikea, to locate a shop in Ballymun in Dublin.
The company secured planning permission last October for a 30,000sq.m outlet, but this was subsequently appealed.
Irish consumers board planes daily for Glasgow and Manchester with the sole aim of shopping at Ikea and shipping its products home.
Despite this interest, Ikea refused to open an outlet here because of Irish restrictions on the size of shops, but these were lifted in February 2006.
Last October planning was granted for what was a possible multi-million euro investment for a traditionally deprived area.
However concern about the traffic implications for the congested M50 has led An Bord Pleanála to hold a hearing at a hotel near Dublin Airport. It was due to start at 2pm this afternoon.
Among the objectors are the National Roads Authority, Green Party TD Eamon Ryan and developers Treasury Holdings.
