John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)

This would entail that all lobbying or contact by such individuals, as it pertains to any zoning issue, development plan or material contravention, be recorded in the local authority. I would place such an onus on both parties, that is, the officials and councillors on the one hand and the landowner, lobbyist or developer on the other. If developers thought for one moment that contacts with councillors or officials would be noted on the public record, they would think twice about making any such contacts.

If we are to reform governmental procedures and establish a system that rejects the culture of the golden circle and the wink and nod, we must reform and transform the mentality and manner with which business is transacted with government. The place to start is with the entity that is most vulnerable to political influence and patronage, namely, local government.

I believe the majority of officials and councillors would support a disclosure measure in the area of rezoning. While it would impose an additional layer of responsibility on members of local authorities, it would also reduce some of the pressure applied to them by vested interests. The Minister is not present but it is clear his party is in a pivotal and powerful position in the Government, which is unusual. The Fianna Fáil Party will do virtually anything to keep the Green Party on board for the next couple of years. If the Green Party were to introduce legislation tomorrow to ban young maidens from dancing at crossroads, the Fianna Fáil Party would support it. For this reason and because the Green Party has set itself up as the party of reform in government, it will be judged by how it reforms the decision making process throughout government as well as levels of transparency.

As Members are aware, reform is not sufficient. The Minister and his party need to address the inherent culture rather than tinkering with a system which remains chronically vulnerable to patronage and excessive political influence. For this reason, it will be necessary to provide for a disclosed record of contacts between local authority members and officials, on the one hand, and those who would benefit from any rezoning measure, on the other.

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