Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In early December last year, RTÉ's "Prime Time Investigates" brought attention to the most heinous of crimes. Three building developers provided evidence of a criminal extortion racket. All credit is due to them and the reporter, Barry O'Kelly. The documentary featured covert recordings showing how these criminals, John and Micheál Callaghan, acted as representatives of a number of fake NGOs and made trumped-up objections to planning applications to extract money for the withdrawal of those complaints or objections.

The next day, the Taoiseach said that what these criminals were doing was illegal. The Ministers for housing and justice were advised to take action. The Attorney General said ample legal measures are in place under existing legislation and pointed to section 17 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, under which An Garda Síochána can investigate these criminals. An Bord Pleanála were to conduct a review of all the objections submitted by these criminal brothers, John and Micheál Callaghan. Despite the three developers making time to help RTÉ to pull the programme together in a great deed of public service and, following that programme, making individual complaints to An Garda Síochána, as each of the cases has a unique set of facts and all the efforts made, no one has been in touch with the developers. No one from An Garda Síochána or An Bord Pleanála has contacted them about the criminals and their criminal acts. I have heard on the grapevine that they may not be contacted and that An Garda Síochána and the DPP will sit on their hands. To be honest, I am asking what the Minister of State will do about it.

We need houses. That is all we talk about in this Chamber, day in and day out. It is the worst housing crisis ever. Allowing the criminal practice of extortion and racketeering to go unpunished, means many developments are not going ahead as developers have lost faith. These criminals, the Callaghan brothers, and their acts are costing the housing industry and the poor unfortunate purchaser a fortune and they are delaying the delivery of housing. It is entirely within the Government's control to stamp it out. The inaction of the Government means it is allowing it to continue. It does not instil confidence. Criminals, like the Callaghan brothers, receiving money and holding developers to ransom like in the days of the Wild West, comes at a huge cost to the people of Ireland who need homes. What actions will the Government take to stop this action and ensure sanctions on criminals such as the Callaghan brothers, because it has the same impact as the motion being discussed this evening?

See this speech in context