Ownership of an office block did not influence a Labour Dublin city councillor's proposal to increase the permissible heights for such buildings, he said this afternoon.
Addressing the Standards in Public Office Commission, councillor Oisín Quinn said no "reasonable person aware of the facts" would conclude his one-sixth share in a four-storey office block would have influenced his decision to propose a maximum height of seven storeys across the whole city.
Mr Quinn said the proposal supported by the Labour group on the city council was not "site specific" to his property. As such his motion relating to proper planning and development was "remote" to his personal interests.
Mr Quinn who declared an interest in the proposal but failed to withdraw during council votes is facing 14 charges in relation to breaches of the local Government regulations, at a Standards in Public Office commission hearing.
The property, which Mr Quinn has declared in his annual declaration of interests, is 84-93 Lower Mount Street, the majority of which is occupied by the Revenue Commissioners.
The complaint about Mr Quinn was submitted by Michael Smith, editor of Village magazine and Independent councillor Cieran Perry in their personal capacities They wrote to the commission on November 23rd, 2010.
Following the complaint and its own investigation, the commission decided to hold today's formal hearing, led by senior counsel Diarmaid McGuinness. Mr Quinn was defended by Eoin McCullough SC
Th Standards in Public Office Commission said it will deliver its judgement in January.
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