Mr. Frank McDonald:

I was appalled by what happened; I am still appalled by it. There were very substantial allegations made in regard to what was going on in those seven local authorities but the Department of the Environment had no interest in investigating what was really going on. None of the allegations was effectively examined and a kind of whitewash was thrown over the whole thing. Do not forget that one of the central recommendations of the planning tribunal was that there should be an independent planning regulator appointed. That is not going to happen. The terms that have been announced in this regard do not involve the holder of that office being independent.