Move to end An Taisce's special role is deferred by council

Clare County Council has decided to defer a motion seeking to remove An Taisce's official status to allow an official of the organisation address the council.

The leader of the Fianna Fáil group on the council, Cllr P.J. Kelly, agreed to defer the motion until Monday so that An Taisce's heritage officer, Mr Ian Lumley, could respond.

Cllr Kelly's motion is requesting the council to instruct the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, to remove An Taisce's prescribed status under the Planning Acts.

An Taisce's status means planning authorities are required to notify the trust of planning applications that would have an impact on sensitive landscapes.

At the council's April meeting, Cllr Kelly interrupted proceedings to say Mr Lumley had phoned him prior to the meeting to request him to withdraw his motion. Cllr Kelly said: "It was a most serious interference with the democratic process." He added that Mr Lumley had told him he had information "that I had a conflict of interest on a matter. That same accusation was made in the past, was investigated and the accusation was withdrawn."

Later, as Cllr Kelly's motion was due to be discussed, the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patrick O'Gorman (FF), informed the meeting that he had received a letter from Mr Lumley requesting him to defer the motion to allow him put An Taisce's case before the council.

Mr Lumley said prior to the meeting: "Councillors have condemned An Taisce in the past, but nobody has ever gone this far. This is very serious."

Cllr Flan Garvey (FF) said: "The motion should be proceeded with now. We are all aware of An Taisce's activities. An Taisce acts as more a hindrance than a help in planning matters as it interferes in the planning process."

Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) asked that the motion be deferred. He said: "It was wrong of An Taisce to contact Cllr Kelly by phone. This is an explosive situation and the climate is all wrong for such a debate to take place."

However, Cllr Paul Bugler (FG) said it was quite appropriate that the council hear Mr Lumley before a decision is made on the motion.

Speaking prior to the meeting, Cllr Kelly said that he was tabling the motion "because An Taisce has inhibited development of rural Clare and if the motion is successful, it will put a little more democracy into the system".