Former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor was at a meeting in Leinster House in 1991 "in a consultative capacity" on how to apply for rezoning of lands now owned by Jackson Way Properties Ltd, the tribunal heard yesterday.
At the time the lands were owned by Paisley Park Investments Ltd. An engineer engaged by that company to make a submission to Dublin County Council on rezoning the lands told the tribunal about the Leinster House meeting.
Mr Brian O'Flanagan, who worked with D. McCarthy & Company from 1990 to December 2000, said the meeting was arranged by his boss, Mr Frank Finnegan, for November 29th, 1991, but was rearranged for December 2nd, 1991.
In his statement to the tribunal he said he and Mr Finnegan went separately to Leinster House for the meeting. There they met gaming arcade owner Mr Jim Kennedy and Mr Lawlor. There was a discussion about the lands at Carrickmines owned by Paisley Park Investments Ltd.
"Frank Finnegan and myself were briefed on what had to be done with regard to the preparation of plans and the draft letter in connection with the representation we submitted to the council concerning the Carrickmines lands," he said.
Mr O'Flanagan said he had never met Mr Lawlor or Mr Kennedy before. This was the first and only time he was in Leinster House. He said that later that afternoon he received a call at his office from Mr Lawlor to see if the material for submission to the council was ready. It was not, and Mr Lawlor left his home phone number and asked that he be called when it was.
Mr O'Flanagan said he believed he telephoned Mr Lawlor some time later to inform him the documents were ready for collection. It was arranged that Mr Lawlor and Mr Kennedy would call to his office in Dundrum the next day, December 3rd, to collect them.
Mr Lawlor, together with his son, Mr Niall Lawlor, and Mr Jim Kennedy, called for the documents on December 3rd. These were submitted to the planning department of the county council later that day.
In another statement read into the record by tribunal counsel Mr John Gallagher SC, Mr Finnegan said he, too, recalled attending the Leinster House meeting. He said the meeting was arranged by Mr Kennedy. He said Mr Lawlor attended the meeting "in a consultative capacity". However, he had no recollection of the discussions that took place at the meeting in relation to Paisley Park Investments Ltd.
Mr Lawlor denies any involvement or interest in Jackson Way or the lands it owns.