'History Must Not Repeat Itself On Planning Mistakes' - Coghlan

Fine Gael Kerry Senator and Seanad Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, has said that we must ensure that history does not repeat itself when it comes to the mistakes made during the planning process.

Senator Coghlan was speaking during an address to the Seanad on the Mahon Tribunal Report.

"The Mahon Tribunal finds that corruption in Irish political life was both endemic and systemic and affected every level of government, from senior ministerial office holders to local councillors. Its existence was widely known and unfortunately tolerated.

"As well as its findings of fact, the Report sets out a series of policy recommendations for consideration to help ensure that similar situations do not arise again in the future. Recommendations are made on a range of areas including planning, conflicts of interest, political finance and lobbying, bribery, corruption, money laundering and asset recovery and confiscation.


"The Government is taking action on these recommendations; all Ministers have been asked to consider as a matter of urgency the Report’s recommendations that fall within their remit. An update on this is expected by the end of this month.

"The Government has also referred the Report to the Garda Commissioner, the Director of Public Prosecution, the Chair of the Revenue Commissioners and the Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Garda Commissioner has also forwarded the report to the Criminal Assets Bureau for their urgent attention.

"Many of the recommendations contained within the Report are being addressed by new Government legislation. This includes new legislation in regard to political funding, corruption, whistle blowers and the registration of lobbyists. The Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill severely curtails political donations and opens political parties up to closer public scrutiny. The Government has also identified the need to review ethics legislation."

(CD/GK)