John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on this motion and I commend Deputy Niall Collins and others for bringing it before the House. In June 2010 the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, announced an independent inquiry into planning irregularities in six local authorities. In January 2011, six planning consultants were selected to carry out inquiries into the alleged planning irregularities. The consultants were independent and were to carry out a full review. In June 2011, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, stood down the consultants and downgraded the inquiry to an internal review.

See this speech in context