Former Environment Minister Michael Smith, who ordered a garda inquiry into planning corruption, has told the Mahon Tribunal he did not pass on an allegation of corruption that was made by a Fianna Fáil councillor.
Mr Smith said he could not now remember which councillor said in 1993 that he could not deny money was changing hands in relation to rezoning in Dublin.
Michael Smith said he ordered the garda inquiry because of growing concern about the planning process.
Mr Smith said he wanted to reign in the worst excesses of rezoning as he was worried about the financial implications in providing road and sewerage services for new developments.
He said it appeared that these new developments were taking place at the prompting of landowners, developers, and their agents rather than an overall vision of proper planning.
Mr Smith said he had a meeting with 'extremely angry' councillors afterwards but he did not ask them about the issue of corruption.
He said he had ordered a garda inquiry and did not feel it personally necessary to investigate.
Mr Smith said he did not inform the then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds or suggest an internal party inquiry after a Fianna Fáil councillor made the allegation over money and rezoning.
He thought the appropriate thing to do was to ask the gardaí to investigate but did not pass on the allegation made by the Fianna Fáil councillor.
He said gardaí reported back to his department that they could not find any evidence of corruption.
