Vol. 442 No. 1
11 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice the progress, if any, she has made with the investigation into allegations of bribery associated with land rezoning in County Dublin; and the plans, if any, she has to bring this matter to a conclusion.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that investigation of alleged corruption in relation to land rezoning in County Dublin has not yielded evidence which would support the taking of a criminal prosecution. However, I understand that the Garda investigation files remain open and, should additional information become available, it will be fully and properly investigated.
I am glad the file in this case remains open, even though there has not been a great deal to report until now. Members of the Garda Síochána share my view that the investigation is unlikely to uncover anything of substance until such time as there is some amnesty or confidentiality for witnesses. Will the Minister put in place a provision to ensure that evidence is forthcoming? Has she spoken to journalists who report cases of developers offering money? I understand that in one case a councillor refused a sum of money as being insufficient for the purpose of voting a certain way on a rezoning proposal.
What we are talking about is allegation and rumour. I exhort all members of the public, journalists, politicians and others, if they have such evidence, to bring it to the attention of the Garda. The decision whether to institute proceedings against an individual is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is independent in the carrying out of his duties. I have no function, nor would I support giving the Minister a function, in impeding or influencing the Director of Public Prosecutions in his job. The essential element in instituting proceedings or prosecutions in any case is evidence, and evidence is not available in this case. Only one person has been successfully prosecuted. Once again I exhort anybody who has information to bring it immediately to the Garda.
I appreciate the Minister is distinguishing between allegation and evidence. Is she anxious to further this investigation through the means I mentioned or through the Director of Public Prosecutions? Would she agree there should be a redoubling of effort in this area? It is extremely frustrating for members of the public who see huge prices being paid for large areas of land, simply on the basis of a vote. The temptation in this regard is enormous. Perhaps the Minister for the Environment should be involved in this matter. Will the Minister consider options to clear the logjam on bringing forward evidence?
Every possible lead that has come to the Garda has been pursued actively and the file remains open. When the first complaints were made in 1989 one of my colleagues who was then Minister for the Environment initiated the Garda investigation. There is no slowness on my part to ensure that every facility is made available so that all evidence that comes to the Garda is vigorously pursued.
I am a member of a local authority that has not had controversy on rezoning. Would the Minister agree in the public interest, and in the interest of defending public officials, whether elected or unelected, that the forthcoming ethics Bill should incorporate provisions requiring declarations in given circumstances where there is a potential conflict of interest or potential for corruption and will she recommend to her relevant Cabinet colleague that consideration be given to incorporating those provisions in the Bill?
I will certainly talk with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Fitzgerald, about the suggestion offered by Deputy Mitchell. Stringent regulations will be laid down in that legislation for members of the Oireachtas, members of Government, senior public servants, chief executives of State companies and so on, and that is to be welcomed. I am interested in ensuring that the high level of integrity of public officials and elected politicians is maintained and that the public have confidence in them.
