THE community
is still paying the price for the widespread corruption in the planning process
outlined in the findings of the Mahon Tribunal, according to the Labour Party
in Dublin Mid West.
Local TD Robert
Dowds said people in Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown and Quarryvale were still
living with the consequences of the corrupt planning decisions of the late
1980s and early 1990s.
“The
consequences of this corruption continue to be felt in 2012, as the people of
the area have been deprived of a decent town centre and the area that was
originally intended to be a town centre remains undeveloped to this day,
? he
said.
“As a
result, most of the residential areas are far away from what purports to be the
town centre at Liffey Valley. This is far from the ideal when trying to build a
strong sense of community.
?
He added:
“The findings of the tribunal have borne out what was common knowledge
among many people in our community: that various Fianna Fáil politicians were
receiving corrupt payments in exchange for votes on planning issues.
“Fianna
Fáil should hang their heads in shame for what they have inflicted upon the
people of our community.
“I am
hopeful that the report will be sent on to the DPP for his consideration.”
The Mahon
Tribunal also said that Liam Lawlor’s involvement with landowners and
developers rendered him “hopelessly compromised”.
The Dublin West
TD was central to three areas of the tribunal’s work concerning land deals at
Coolamber, Carrickmines and Quarryvale.
It found that
the TD, who died in a Moscow car crash in 2005, had accepted
“inappropriate and
corrupt payments
?.
Last week
Fianna Fail was moving to expel several former high profile members, including
ex-Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, from the party.
Party leader
Micheál Martin said that although the central allegation against Bertie Ahern
was not sustained in the Mahon Tribunal report, the evidence confirmed by the
tribunal and its comments relating to him were extremely serious.
Mr Ahern said
he would continue to examine ways in which to vindicate his name.
“But I must
repeat I never took a bribe or corrupt payment,
? he stated.
“I never made a
political decision in return for a payment.
?