An Bord Pleanala

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has referred a planning report into “certain decisions” at An Bord Pleanala to the Director of Public Prosecu...

“In this light, I treat any allegations of inappropriate actions or behaviour by its members with the utmost seriousness. Mr O’Brien said he referred the report by barrister Remy Farrell on the advice of the Attorney General Mr O’Brien said he referred the report by barrister Remy Farrell on the advice of the Attorney General

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has referred a report on certain decisions made by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to the Director of Public ...

As a result, the current process for nominations will cease. Last month, the deputy chair of An Bord Pleanála, Paul Hyde, resigned. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has referred a report on certain decisions made by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), an Garda Síochána (AGS) and the Standards in Public Office (SIPO).

The Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien TD, has on the advice of the Attorney General, referred the report completed by Mr. Remy Farrell SC into the ...

It is expected that this internal report will examine further allegations of wrongdoing. “An Bord Pleanála stands at the apex of our planning system and plays a crucial role as the final arbiter of many planning applications,” Minister O’Brien said. “The Minister would again like to thank Mr. Farrell S.C. and Mr. Chris Mills B.L. who assisted Mr. Farrell in his work,” the spokesperson said.

The internal report will be completed by a senior management team while the external report will involve the Planning Regulator and two experts from outside ...

The Housing Minister said there was a need to ensure that there was public confidence in the planning body and that any damage caused was reversed. “I find it actually quite surprised it has taken him this long to recognise that there's issues that have to be addressed at An Bord Pleanála. He was very vocal when he was in opposition in 2018 to a lack of staffing resources at An Bord Pleanála. Yet, he's been the Minister for Housing for more than two years and failed to act on that. Dr Norton told RTÉ radio’sthat there was a perception that the planning system “may not be as robust” as people imagined and that that confidence was “ebbing” in An Bord Pleanála. He has always denied any impropriety on his part. The Housing Minister also said appointments to the planning appeals body will be “effectively” halted, saying: “The current appointment process of members to An Bord Pleanála needs to change and it will change.” Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has acknowledged the possibility that parts of a report he has commissioned into An Bord Pleanála may have to be redacted when it is published because of the possibility of legal action.

Mr O'Brien said he wants to publish the Farrell report, but he must get advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Catherine Pierse. The Minister ...

Mr O’Brien said there was a need to ensure that there was public confidence in the planning body and that any damage caused was reversed. When the Board was founded in 1977 it was to play the part of an independent review service for planning decisions made by other bodies — local authorities. Dr Norton told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that there was a perception that the planning system “may not be as robust” as people imagined and that that confidence was “ebbing” in An Bord Pleanála. “The system needs to be reviewed.” It said that: “The Chairperson confirmed that the Board is in the process of finalising its own internal review into certain issues and allegations raised with it and he will be providing a report to the Minister shortly on the analysis and findings of this review, as well as information on any proposed actions to be taken, including in particular measures to strengthen the effectiveness of the Board’s existing controls, protocols, procedures and systems to manage potential conflicts of interest. In a statement on Tuesday An Bord Pleanála said its chairman, Dave Walsh, had noted the Minister’s decision to refer the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Garda Commissioner and the Standards in Public Office Commission. Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has acknowledged the possibility that parts of a report he has commissioned into An Bord Pleanála may have to be redacted when it is published because of the possibility of legal action.

Ireland's Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien has said appointments to the planning appeals body will be “effe...

“It’s not up to me, I say this respectfully, to have a view on whether someone would make a challenge or not. “We need to do this while ensuring that our planning system continues to work and that we ensure that there is confidence in the planning system and we can reverse some of the damage that has been done in that space.” “We will proceed with that but I will do it by way of public advertisement and we’ll do that by the end of the month.”

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has referred the as-yet-unpublished report into planning decisions involving the board's former deputy chair to the DPP, who ...

Mr O'Brien said last night that he would not publish the report until the DPP had made her decision. Mr O'Brien announced that an independent organisational review of An Bord Pleanála will be carried out by the Office of the Planning Regulator, including independent planning experts from other countries and barrister Conleth Bradley. The minister will also bring a plan to Cabinet in the coming weeks, setting out a new appointments process for members of An Bord Pleanála, which is to be underpinned by new legislation. A report into potential conflicts of interest at An Bord Pleanála has been referred to the gardaí and the DPP.

The Minister for Housing has passed the barrister's report to the DPP surrounding alleged conflicts of interest at the planning body.

“This is An Bord that refused an oral hearing on the Moore Street appeals. In his statement online, Minister O'Brien announced a broad overhaul of operations at An Bord Pleanála, including the cessation of decisions made by two person panels, without the approval of the full board, and changes to how appointments are made to the planning body. "Are those decisions still legitimate?

The minister said it is now a matter for the DPP to decide if a criminal prosecution should be undertaken arising from the findings of the report.

“I intend to bring a memorandum to Government in early September, outlining what I wish to do with regard to the future direction of the board”. These interim reforms will be considered and reflected in the Board’s ongoing review of its Code of Conduct. He said the OPR report “will be fully considered and addressed in the context of further strengthening our systems, procedures and controls”. The structure of the board and the review the OPR is carrying out in that regard, is very important, he said. “I want to ensure that public can can have trust in the impartiality of the board and the system,” said the minister. “And the advice that I got – which I completely agree with – is that the contents of the report are of such a nature that it requires referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions, to An Garda Síochána and indeed to the Standards in Public Office Commission,” he said. “I do believe the report should be published – but I obviously want to make sure the publication of the report won’t in any way impinge upon the investigation that will go on.

Ireland's Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien has said appointments to the planning appeals body will be “effe...

When asked whether previous planning decisions affected by this independent review could now be altered or revoked, Mr O’Brien said: “It’s not up to me, I say this respectfully, to have a view on whether someone would make a challenge or not. “We need to do this while ensuring that our planning system continues to work and that we ensure that there is confidence in the planning system and we can reverse some of the damage that has been done in that space.” He said: “I’ve written to the DPP in that regard and asked her, you know, to have regard to that.” “The measures that I announced yesterday and will bring forward in September will certainly help in that regard.” “We will proceed with that but I will do it by way of public advertisement and we’ll do that by the end of the month.” Mr O’Brien said he will bring a memo to Cabinet in September in relation to reforms to appointments, which he said would be “mirrored” by the new marine planning function.