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Mary Lou McDonald Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

DDDA fiasco shows 'murky relationship between FF, developers and Anglo' - TD

Mary Lou McDonald has said that the Irish taxpayer is again being made to foot the bill for the debacle at the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

THE SINN FÉIN TD Mary Lou McDonald has said that for many people the debacle at the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) “epitomises the worst excesses of the murky relationship between Fianna Fáil, property developers and Anglo Irish Bank”.

She was speaking in the aftermath of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s damning report into the affairs of the DDDA, its purchase of the Irish Glass Bottle Factory site for a total of €431 million and the decision to wind it down, made by the Environment Minister Phil Hogan last week.

“The winding down of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) over the next eighteen months is good news,” McDonald said in a statement today as she urged Hogan to work closely with Dublin City Council to ensure its operations are transferred smoothly.

As a member of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, she said that those involved with the authority, including senior figures from Anglo Irish Bank such as former chief executive Seán FitzPatrick and director Lar Bradshaw, should be compelled to come before the committee.

She said: “Hearings must take place and witnesses must be compelled to attend. Former board members, the Minister who appointed them and senior civil servants who sat on the DDDA board must be brought before the Committee to explain their actions.

The chairman of the committee Fianna Fáil’s John McGuinness has already indicated that this may happen with former cabinet ministers including Dick Roche also likely to be requested to appear before the committee.

The C&AG’s report detailed how ministerial approval had only been granted for the authority to participate in a bid of around €220 million for the Glass Bottle site with no evidence that the eventual amount paid was cleared with any of the appropriate government departments.

The site in Ringsend is now part of the National Asset Management Agency’s (NAMA) portfolio and was valued at just €45 million in January of last year.

McDonald added that the debacle at the DDDA was another instance of the taxpayer being made to foot the bill with the bank that provided it loans, Anglo Irish Bank, having since been taken into state-ownership and gradually wound up.

She added: “For many the DDDA epitomises the worst excesses of the murky relationship between Fianna Fáil, property developers and Anglo Irish Bank. Yet again the public purse will be left to pick up the tab.”

Read: FitzPatrick, Bradshaw and ministers could be forced to address TDs on Docklands debacle

Read: Dublin Docklands Development Authority to be wound up, says Hogan

Read: C&AG report questions decisions made by DDDA in bid for Glass Bottle site

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37 Comments
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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:25 AM

    Just don’t let that idiot d’arcy anywhere near him this time

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Mar 24th 2016, 8:36 AM

    Don’t worry he won’t as he wont want his wife leaving him for a real man

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:37 AM

    Hopefully we’ll get an update on what its like to be a sex symbol.

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    Mute Meanderingsz
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:48 AM

    The other guy Jerry Bunting, will be doing a lecture in Belfast for the ‘European Young Bar Association Spring Conference’, April 7-9.
    For those who may be interested..

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    Mute Trevor Beale
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:24 AM

    I wonder will D’Arcy get a ticket!

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    Mute anthony campion
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 2:22 PM

    Wonder will “my wife Jenny and the girls in the office” go to see him

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    Mute KM TON
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:37 AM

    But he lost the case!! And then walked away! Why is he getting so much exposure here?? Because he has a hurling statue in his office? jeez…

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 11:12 AM

    Because ppl will spend money

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    Mute KM TON
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 12:25 PM

    You’re right Mark! People are stupid

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    Mute Richard F
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 12:01 PM

    What’s the fascination with this fella he was only doing what he’s paid a fortune to do and lost the case your man is rotten away in prison and this fella is going around the world making millions out of him

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:25 AM

    How many times can they milk this cow.

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 11:13 AM

    You milk a cow every day, twice a day!

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    Mute Anthony P
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:33 AM

    €32 a ticket. Good luck selling out that gig.

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    Mute Adam
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 11:45 AM

    “He visited Ireland last year”? Wasn’t it more like late January this year? Maybe it’s both.

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    Mute Joe Conlon
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 12:48 PM

    Hi Adam, I’m going to be a Pedantic Pat for a minute, if you are Chinese then it would be late last year as the Chinese new year starts in February, with that I’m going off to see if I can be pedantic with anybody else, have a good one.

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    Mute Elaine Shannon
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    Mar 24th 2016, 9:00 AM

    I’m assuming these lads are getting paid. Kind of obscene they are getting rich off the back of that poor misfortune Avery isn’t it?

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    Mute Phantom Arse
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:29 AM

    Are people still interested in making a murderer?

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:42 AM

    Yes.

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    Mute Anne Clarke
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 11:47 AM

    Why the difference in price between Galway and Cork?

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    Mute W1K
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 2:07 PM

    Smaller venue in Galway

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    Mute Jack Falltrades
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:27 AM

    He’ll have plenty of work here if he wants it, this country is full of avery’s!

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    Mute Les Behan
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 11:00 AM

    You’re for the birds. Get it, Avery’s, birds?

    “I’ve had my fun and that’s all that matters!”

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    Mute Jack Falltrades
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 12:17 PM

    Love it

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    Mute Lukey
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:33 AM

    is his partner in crime jerry buting also coming

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    Mute Meanderingsz
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 10:49 AM

    Hes booked for the ‘European Young Bar Association Spring Conference’ in Belfast so he may be doing some other ‘personal appearances’

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    Mute Barry Kelly
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    Mar 24th 2016, 8:09 AM

    Hope someone asks him about that hurling trophy.

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    Mute Mondoburley
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    Mar 24th 2016, 8:52 AM

    Just answer the question, are they getting out or wha??? End of….

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    Mute the phantom
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    Mar 24th 2016, 7:52 AM

    It’s about time that pro bono pays out!

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    Mute Tommy
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    Mar 23rd 2016, 8:06 PM

    Yes!!!!!!!

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    Mute glenoir1
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    Mar 24th 2016, 8:04 AM

    Who cares

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