‘Oireachtas members and Oireachtas ex-members should know that statements should not be made on live planning applications’

Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Moylan stressed at a council meeting this week that Oireachtas members and ex-members of the Oireachtas should be aware that public statements should not be made on live planning applications.

At Monday’s monthly meeting of the council, Cllr Moylan made the comments during a discussion on the controversial IPAS centre planned for Roscommon Town.

In response to queries raised by Fianna Fáil councillor Marty McDermott, Director of Services Mark Keaveney outlined that Roscommon County Council determined that the original application for such a centre was not an exempted development.

The meeting was told that the council’s decision was appealed and is currently with An Bord Pleanála for adjudication.

During the discussion, Cllr Moylan welcomed the decision of the council and said that there “was a lot of bluster and people using it as a publicity tool on the internet and Marty (McDermott) held his powder and brought it to the proper forum”.

“People who have no skin in the game calling for councillors to say this and people to say that. We can’t be coming out and making statements on live planning applications. Oireachtas members, ex-members of the Oireachtas, people out there in the public should know that,” said the councillor.

Independent councillor Nigel Dineen commended the council for making the right decision and said the determination of the appeal was now awaited from An Bord Pleanála.

Supporting the decision of Roscommon County Council, Fianna Fáil councillor Larry Brennan said there was a lot of commentary on the issue and “a lot of false stuff being peddled”.

“This is a live planning issue so there’s not a lot that people can say at the moment,” he said.

Council Cathaoirleach Paschal Fitzmaurice said this was the right forum to raise the issue “and there is no speculation, no Walter Mitty stuff that has been going on over the last few weeks”.

Cllr Tony Ward also thanked Cllr McDermott for raising the issue in the chamber and supported the council’s original decision on the planning application.