Report Paul Murphy
Meath County Council has declined to comment on remarks made at an inquiry earlier this week into alleged breaches of planning regulations about the need to provide more education to councillors on their obligations to declare their interests when planning matters are being decided. The inquiry, conducted by the Standards in Public Office commission, ran over two days and heard evidence from former county councillor Tommy Reilly who was investigated whether he breached the Local Government Act 2001 and the Code of Conduct for councillors. Mr Reilly denied that he had breached any of the regulations.
Among those who gave evidence at the hearing were former council chief executive Jackie Maguire, Mr Reilly himself, his sons Tomas and Kieran and planning consultant Eamon Collins. The county council conducted an internal investigation into a potential breach of ethical rules by the councillor in relation to a plot of land on the Navan-Kells Road which was rezoned and had its value increased eight fold. The plot at Liscarton was later put up for sale for €4.2 million.
Former CEO Jackie Maguire gave evidence at the hearing
The county council investigation found that while Mr Reilly had excused himself from the vote which changed the zoning of the land, he had “inadvertently” broken ethical rules by “not updating his register of interests”. The council found that according to the information available disciplinary action against Mr Reilly was not warranted. During her evidence to the Sipo inquiry Ms Maguire said that she felt that greater training should be given to councillors about the register of interests as it could be confusing. The onus was on the individual councillors to make the declaration, She also accepted that Mr Reilly had no knowledge of his sons’ involvement in the land until two weeks beforehand. She said it was “unwise” of Mr Reilly to attend a pre-planning meeting because his son was the applicant. It was not unusual for councillors to attend the pre-planning meetings which was where applicants sought information before a planning application was made. She said that no lobbying took place at those meetings. It was the case that at council meetings councillors would be reminded of their obligations verbally particular where they would have discussed planning matters.
Former FF Councillor Tommy Reilly
Mr Reilly, in his evidence to the inquiry, said that he had not attended a pre-planning meeting but had attended a “pre-consultation” meeting and had not spoken there. Asked about his son’s ownership of the land at Liscarton, Mr Reilly said he believed he did not have to register such interests. He he had asked by his son how he could go about making a submission on the land, he (Mr Reilly Senior) had told him that he could have nothing to do with the land. On the date of the meeting held to vote on the rezoning (19 th July 2017) an official had told him he did not have to leave the meeting because he had no financial or other interest in the Liscarton land.
He told the inquiry that he had stood up and told the meeting he had a conflict of interest. Asked about his understanding of the declaration of interests he replied that “that you have to declare
everything” and that had to be signed before a peace commissioner or commissioner of oaths. He was asked if he knew what a “connected person” was and he replied “no”. A barrister read out what a connected person might be – brother, sister, parent, spouse, civil partner or child. Mr Reilly said that he did not know that a son could be a connected person. He believed that once he had
declared a conflict of interest, he had fulfilled his obligations. “I find it all very confusing”, he said.
Asked about the remarks made at the Sipo inquiry about the need for further education of councillors on their responsibilities, the Corporate and Governance section of Meath County Council said it could not comment on any matter concerning an ongoing Sipo inquiry. “However, in general terms, all councillors annually receive a copy of the Code of Conduct for councillors as part of the annual declaration of declarable interests process. Additionally, elected members are provided with training opportunities through both Meath County Council and the Irish Association of Local Government (AILG). This training encompasses their responsibilities under Part 15 of the Local Government Act, 2001.”
