A former Fianna Fáil senator who led a controversial bid for the Údarás na Gaeltachta holiday home complex in Connemara is seeking an apology from the Gaeltacht authority over its handling of the affair.
Mr Nioclas Ó Conchubhair, owner of a hardware and building supply business in Leitir Moir, Co Galway, says he and his three partners in the bid have been unfairly "vilified" over the matter.
Last Friday, Údarás na Gaeltachta decided to abandon the tender for sale of its 13-house complex at Eanach Mheain in Connemara following controversy over its acceptance of the Ó Conchubhair bid.
Mr Ó Conchubhair's offer of €1.45 million was the third-highest for the complex. In deciding to accept it on behalf of its Fianna Fáil-dominated Western Committee, the Údarás board bypassed two higher bids.
These had been lodged by a Dublin-based consortium offering €1.95 million, and the Irish language organisation Gael Linn offering €1.505 million. The Údarás executive had recommended acceptance of the highest offer.
Gael Linn has welcomed the decision to abandon the tender, and has described the tendering procedure as a "fiasco".
A report on the issue has been given to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuiv.
Údarás na Gaeltachta is expected to carry out a review of procedures for the sale of other properties it wishes to dispose of to meet its budget deficit.
Mr Ó Conchubhair told The Irish Times that he and his partners were very upset at the handling of the tender and the publicity. "As a group of four, employing some 40 people in the Connemara area, we had plans to upgrade the complex into four-star rating. Our bid met all the criteria, and we understood that it was accepted because it was the highest local bid.
"None of us approached any member of the Údarás board to ask for their support.
"I actually asked one member, Councillor Connie Ní Fhatharta, who was closest to me politically, to absent herself from discussions in relation to our bid, and she did this.
"I am a former Fianna Fáil senator and councillor, but I couldn't even tell you who was at the Western Committee meeting which made the recommendation. We did nothing wrong, and yet we have been vilified unfairly,"
Mr Ó Conchubhair said he and his three partners were seeking a clear statement from the Údarás executive and board which would clear their names.
Mr Padraig Ó hAoláin,spokesman for Údarás na Gaeltachta, said the authority had acknowledged that Mr Ó Conchubhair's name had been "bandied about" in a most "unfortunate manner".
"It was particularly unfortunate when we had no contractual agreement with him, and we were not in a position to discuss the matter as it was coming back to the board for review."
