Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not being rude but I want to use my phone to read the Official Report of 4 November 2004. The late Tony Gregory, then Deputy Gregory, raised with the then Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, the potential conflicts of interest on the part of members of the board of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and that this would prevent them from making balanced planning decisions. The then Minister, Dick Roche, had a bit of a P. Flynn moment - "You should try it sometime".

He said it is difficult in a relatively small city to select people with the talent and time who are willing to give service to the public through these boards. "Wow, thank you for their service," would be the view of many people.

Let me return to the issue of conflicts of interest. Ms Mary Moylan is a very senior public servant, an assistant secretary. Issues associated with conflicts of interest were raised with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government during Question Time in the Dáil. Even at that time, there was a general concern and rumbling about some of the people in question, but not at the level that obtained afterwards. With regard to the meetings, the Comptroller and Auditor General clarified earlier that people said they wished to declare an interest, in respect of which the legal advice was that there was not a conflict of interest, meaning they could continue to participate in the decision-making process at the meetings. As a board member, did Ms Moylan genuinely believe they did not have a conflict of interest? With the benefit of hindsight, is that a decision she would revise?