Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes has admitted he did not investigate an allegation that £100,000 was offered to one of his party's councillors to secure the Quarryvale rezoning.
Mr Dukes told the Mahon Tribunal that he was told by Lucan councillor Peter Brady that the money was offered to another councillor if he could deliver the Fine Gael vote.
Mr Dukes said the allegation was made sometime between 1995 and 1998 but he did not report it to Gardaí or contact the named councillor, Brian Fleming.
He said the air was thick with rumour at the time, with allegations most of which turned out to be without foundation.
And Mr Dukes said he did not believe Mr Fleming would have taken the money.
The tribunal heard that Mr Brady has denied ever making the allegation to Mr Dukes.
Mr Dukes said he did contact gardaí when told of another case by a developer who was told by a senior planning official to pay £10,000 for a reduction in service charges.
The developer told Mr Dukes that the payment secured a reduction in charges of up to £24,000 concerning an apartment development in Chapelizod.
But Mr Dukes said the developer refused to go to gardaí for fear of incriminating himself.
