The man at the centre of RTÉ Investigates allegations concerning payments to objectors in the planning system has confirmed that no financial inducement was sought or offered in connection with the withdrawal of his appeal against Diageo's planned €200m brewery for Newbridge.
On Tuesday, John Callaghan stated that his Sustainability 2050 "unconditionally" withdrew its appeal on November 23rd against the March decision by Kildare Co Council to grant planning permission to Guinness producer, Diageo for its ’net zero carbon’ brewery.
The new brewery for Littleconnell is to provide a major jobs boost to the Kildare area providing up to 1,000 jobs during the 20-month construction period and will lead to the creation of a further 70 jobs when operational.
An Bord Pleanála notified all parties in the case last week on 27 November of the decision by Sustainability 2050 to withdraw the appeal.
In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Callaghan said that he never had a meeting with Diageo or anyone representing Diageo concerning the Sustainability 2050 appeal in connection with the brewery plan.
He said: "I can confirm that I had no meeting with Diageo or any agent for Diageo or anyone known to them or anyone known to me."
He added: "Nothing was sought from me or anyone known to me. Nothing was offered by Diageo to anyone I know or to anyone I have to do with."
A spokeswoman for Diageo said on Tuesday "we have not had contact of any kind with the individuals behind Sustainability 2050 either directly or indirectly."
Mr Callaghan said that he withdrew the appeal because of the delays in the case stating that Diageo Ireland has gone on record that planning delays were jeopardising the project.
In a later statement on Tuesday sent via email, Mr Callaghan said that the Diageo proposal will require an Industrial Emissions licence which requires application to be made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the project would come under the scope of the new revised Energy Efficiency Directive.
He said: "Hence it is pragmatic to expedite the project to the next permitting stage. The establishment of a single appropriately resourced permitting authority could drastically reduce the lead time for major projects by rolling all national and EU law assessments of a project into a one-stop shop."
In the earlier interview, Mr Callaghan said: "I am happy to clarify the position. The appeal by Sustainability 2050 is withdrawn. The appeal was substantial and there are many issues to look at."
He commented: "Meeting net zero is an extraordinary challenge"
Asked had Sustainability 2050 received any financial inducements to withdraw its appeal, Mr Callaghan replied "no’.
Mr Callaghan further confirmed that no financial inducements were made to any third party acting on behalf of Sustainability 2050.
He commented: "I resent this reference to payment...I resent even being asked the question. It is not the first thing I expect anyone to say."
Asked to comment on the content of the RTÉ Investigates programme, Mr Callaghan said: "I don’t want to comment on the matter."
On 20 November, Mr Callaghan was sent a right of reply letter by RTÉ Investigates regarding the allegations aired about him and his brother Micheál.
He provided a one-line statement saying "please be aware that neither of the parties referred to in your letters has done anything unlawful".
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
