‘After 5 years, there’s no more time to hide findings of planning corruption,’ says Dublin TD

Dublin South Central TD Patrick Costello today marked 5 years since the delivery of the Mulcahy Report to the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government with a birthday cake.

The report into alleged planning corruption and irregularities in Donegal County Council was first presented to the Department on June 12th, 2017 and has never been made public.

Deputy Costello, who is the Green Party Spokesperson for Justice, has repeatedly called for the report to be published and this has been echoed dozens of times by elected representatives from several political parties including Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

Speaking outside Leinster House today, Costello said:

“After 5 years, there’s no more time to hide findings of planning corruption and irregularities.

“The allegations which underpinned this inquiry came to light over a decade ago.

“There have been dozens of calls on the various Ministers to publish this report.

“Who exactly is being protected by the continuing veil of secrecy over its findings?”

“In the interest of transparency and accountability

“I am urging Minister O’Brien to be the final Minister to keep this report on a shelf gathering dust.

“It is time to publish the report to assure the public of accountability in the planning system.

“At a time when the public trust in the planning authorities in this country is at a low ebb, it is critical that all incidences of corruption and malfeasance be addressed.”

“If the report cannot be released as it contains allegations of wrongdoing against named persons, then it is the responsibility and the duty of Minister O’Brien to pass it the Gardaí for thorough criminal investigation.

“The report cannot simply be ignored.”