Tipperary councillors vote to restore confidence in An Bord Pleanála

Councillors at Tipperary County Council have come just short of voting no confidence in An Bord Pleanála.

An amendment by Nenagh councillor John Carroll was passed instead. Clonmel councillor Pat English put forward a motion of no confidence at this week’s sitting of Tipperary County Council.

The motion read:

“That Tipperary County Council vote no confidence in An Bord Pleanála in light of the very disturbing controversy at the decisions made by An Bord Pleanala.”

Cllr English said the council needed to take a stand against the “cronyism” displayed by An Bord Pleanála.

He proposed that Tipperary County Council follow other local authorities and vote no confidence in the condemned State agency.

The amendment was seconded by Nenagh councillor Seamus Morris.

FIRST AMENDMENT

However, Cahir -Cashel councillor Marie Murphy disagreed, putting forward her own amendment.

She said the Government had already taken steps to restructure An Bord Pleanála in the form of a Bill, currently going through the Dáil.

She acknowledged votes by other local authorities but said that was before the Bill.

The Fine Gael councillor proposed an amendment in support of what she called, the “swift steps to restore public confidence” taken by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien.

“The easy option is to vote no confidence, but where is the solution for ordinary citizens,” said Cllr Murphy.

Clonmel councillor Siobhán Ambrose seconded Cllr Murphy’s amendment saying there was “no sense” in the original motion.

“There is a bill going forward to do exactly what we are proposing,” said Cllr Ambrose.

However, the amendment needed to be accepted by Cllr English.

He refused, saying he did not have faith in the new Bill and that An Bord Pleanála needed more than a name change.

Nenagh councillor Joe Hannigan, said he could see both sides of the argument but was in favour of no confidence.

He said it was important for the council to highlight the issue as it stands today.

“The fact of the matter is An Bord Pleanála still exists and it’s all very well talking about down the line so long as the new flower doesn’t smell as sweet as the last,” said Cllr Hannigan.

But, Cllr Hanigan said he would consider supporting an amendment.

Nenagh councillor Seamus Morris added that while he recognises the Bill going forward the behaviour at An Bord Pleanála had destroyed public confidence and, that needed to be answered. He said every local authority should have a say in the reform of An Bord Pleanála.

Cllr Murphy agreed with Morris on council input but said: “You are six months too late in my opinion.”

SECOND AMENDMENT
In response, Clonmel councillor Michael Murphy proposed a second amendment, which recognised both the vote of no confidence and the bill going forward.

However, Cllr Marie Murphy and Pat English said they would not support it.

Director of Services for Planning and Development Stephane Duclot and Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council Joe McGrath sought to clarify some misconceptions about the Bill.

Mr Duclot said he understood the council’s frustration, but the Bill would mean a complete restructuring of An Bord Pleanála.

He said it wasn’t the appropriate time for the vote, and he believed they should wait for the outcome from the Dáil.

Mr MacGrath said action was being taken and called for compromise in the Chamber.

“I would caution against a no confidence motion against an organisation about to be abolished,” said Mr MacGrath.

THIRD AMENDMENT

Nenagh councillor John Carroll suggested amending the two previous suggestions.

His amendment recognised the Bill going forward to the Dáil but asks that it be speeded up in the interest of restoring confidence.

“We need to speed up the Bill. There are significant changes and we don’t want to delay them,” said Cllr Carroll.

That amendment was seconded by Newport councillor Fiona Bonfield.

The new amendment was put to a vote and passed 12 to 2.