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Minister Phil Hogan halted planning inquiries, Eamon Ryan said Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Government accused of 'arrogance' over cancelled planning inquiries

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the investigations into six councils had been “ready to go” when they were halted by Phil Hogan.

THE FINE GAEL and Labour coalition has been accused of “arrogance” over its cancellation of inquiries into planning problems at six local authorities after the new government entered office last year.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the inquiries set up by former environment minister John Gormley had been ready to begin when they were halted by Gormley’s successor Phil Hogan.

“They sat on it and they’ve done nothing,” he said, adding:

One of their first actions in government was to put this block on a process that was already ready to go. The consultants had already gone through a tendering process.

Ryan told Newstalk Breakfast: “I think there’s a certain arrogance in the new government. I think there’s an indifference” to reform.

He suggested that the lack of action may have been due to “a natural tendency to say let’s not rock the boat,” because Fine Gael and Labour currently control many councils across the country.

The investigations were due to probe alleged irregularities at Carlow, Galway, Cork and Meath county councils as well as Dublin and Cork city councils.

The Mahon Tribunal found last week that regional authorities were insufficiently accountable. It recommended that constant oversight was necessary to prevent further corruption in the future.

Ryan said the inquiries set up by Gormley would have been “very short, very sharp and very cheap” compared to the tribunal process.

More: Full coverage of the Mahon Tribunal fallout on TheJournal.ie>

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20 Comments
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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:30 AM

    What have Fine Gael to hide?
    More skeletons in their own closets and they know it?

    140
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    Mute Paddy O'Reilly
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    Mar 29th 2012, 9:02 AM

    It’ll probably come out that they shot Collins themselves, just for the PR. :-)

    62
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    Mute Strongbow62
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    Mar 29th 2012, 2:42 PM

    Hogan reminds me of one of those Christian Brothers I had in school that thought intimidation was the best form of motivation. People don’t like being bullied , especially the Irish. Back them into a corner and your sure to get a reaction.

    22
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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:32 AM

    Hogan , arrogant surely not! The man has the “likeabilty” of a common cold !

    115
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    Mute Ailís McKernan
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:33 AM

    I notice that the photos complementing articles referring to Phil hogan always seem I capture a sort of nefarious expression on his face. As much as I dislike the greens after the last shamble s of a government, Ryan is right- certain arrogance does permeate the current coalition. I think in the wake of the Mahon tribunal, hogan would do well to allow this to proceed, in the name of ‘transparency’ and all that- isn’t that one of enda and co’s favourite buzz words? Otherwise the damage done by the handling of the household charge etc will continue to fester.

    83
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    Mute Mike Scott
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:43 AM

    By all accounts, Labour have more to hide than Fine Gael!!

    58
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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    Mar 29th 2012, 9:03 AM

    There is something wrong when a person does not make eye contact. Nothing to do with shyness! Especially with Mr. Hogan. Don’t trust him.

    I wonder how his sleep patterns have been like for the past couple of weeks! Two days to go Mr. Hogan. Have you written your resignation yet?

    67
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Mar 29th 2012, 9:21 AM

    I don’t think the word resign is in any Irish politicians lexicon.

    51
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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Mar 29th 2012, 10:15 AM

    Unless your an ex corrupt minister resigning from FF before they kick you out

    38
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    Mute Michael Fagan
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:38 AM

    Time for a new government.
    Fine Gael/labour don’t want the reforms that are absolutely necessary to prevent future corruption scandals .
    What are they trying to hide?
    Who do they think there fooling?

    60
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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Mar 29th 2012, 10:13 AM

    Who do you want instead? Sinn Fein and the independents?

    31
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    Mute Bryan Rooney
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    Mar 29th 2012, 9:03 AM

    The very same councils that signed off on so much of the ‘planning’ decisions that have led to & contributed enormously to the state this country is in today. The only planning these people give a damn about is early retirement & reducing their golf handicaps!

    57
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    Mute Taidi Mcnally
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:38 AM

    Shock Horror. Fine Gael and Labour are just as useless as the last lot. But…..Eamon Ryan. With you ever shut up and go away ya gobeen.

    46
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    Mute Donal McCarthy
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    Mar 29th 2012, 8:55 AM

    Phil ‘Dick Roche’ Arrogant?

    I’m shocked, shocked I am.

    40
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    Mute Adam Magari
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    Mar 29th 2012, 10:19 AM

    Is there one single local authority in the country with clean hands on planning?

    34
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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Mar 29th 2012, 10:37 AM

    Probably not.

    20
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    Mute Niamh Byrne
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    Mar 29th 2012, 10:40 AM

    I sincerely doubt it. we need an independent enquiry into what went on over the ‘boom’ an inquiry into planning and building regs. There are too many homeowners left carrying the can of substandard building and planning decisions. I would like to see it all out in the open so we can learn from the mistakes and failures, I won’t be holding my breath tho.

    23
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    Mute Keith Twamley
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    Mar 29th 2012, 11:31 AM

    Lies, lies and more lies from this Government. If you don’t pay the household charge we won’t be able to afford to provide you with local services. But they can afford to buy Irish Life for €1.3 billion. I don’t believe you regarding planning investigations Phil, I don’t believe anything that comes out of your mouth, to be honest, but you wouldn’t understand that concept, would you?

    31
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    Mute Niall Fitzpatrick
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    Mar 29th 2012, 10:10 AM

    Ryan accusing someone of arrogance! I haven’t forgotten the “let’s move on” after their bank bailout, that hasn’t gone away. Any government minister, past or present, who doesn’t believe in transparency in civil expenditure matters really has a contempt for their employers.

    28
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    Mute Jay funk
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    Mar 29th 2012, 11:04 AM

    at this stage i think all the parties are no good useless corrupt scum, perhaps the only way politics in this country might improve is if all parties were banned and all TD’s had to be independent and all votes in the dail open

    22
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