Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Neither my Department nor I had anything to do with the granting of planning permission on this site. I want to make that clear, because there is an insinuation to that effect. All I have to do is to determine whether the proposal for 14-17 Moore Street is suitable for that monument. Planning permission was granted by Dublin City Council and I understand it was more or less unanimous, with no objections at the time it was granted. In 1999 planning permission was granted to demolish every building on it. As I understand there were very few dissenting voices on the previous occasion when permission was granted. It then went to An Bord Pleanála and has gone through all those procedures, which I have nothing to do with. I cannot change the planning permission that was granted on the site. However, in consultation with experts in my Department and the National Museum I can determine whether the proposal for the national monument is a suitable proposal for that site. I will determine that as soon as I get the information I must get because of the legal issues involved. I am following that procedure very carefully because this is very contentious, as the Deputies know. As for the suggestion of contacting NAMA about a specific site, I am sure I would be precluded from doing that.

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