Calls have been made for the Taoiseach to explain what interventions he made on Donald Trump’s behalf, in a planning permission issue in Co. Clare.
It follows comments by Leo Varadkar yesterday, who’s said he called the Council to inquire about a planning application for a West Clare wind farm, following a phone call by then businessman.
The local authority says it has no record of receiving any such call and the Taoiseach’s Department has rowed back from his comments.
Leo Varadkar’s words at a luncheon in Washington yesterday, a statement which now sees him coming under fire from several quarters here at home.
He was referring to a phone call in 2014, made to the County Council after he’d received communication from Donald Trump in relation to a planning permission application for a West Clare wind farm.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach has since said his office called, rather than the Minister himself, and that it’s normal for Ministers to seek such information.
In a statement, Clare County Council says all representations, objections and observations made in relation to the file are available to view, but there is no mention in the planning file of then Minister Leo Varadkar.
Now, the opposition want to know the extent to which he intervened and the matter is expected to be raised in the Dáil next week.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley believes questions need to be answered.
But Clare’s Fine Gael Senator insists the Taoiseach has done nothing wrong.
Martin Conway insists the proper procedures were followed.
The company which lost out when planning permission was refused – Clare Coastal Wind Power – has also released a statement saying it appears that they weren’t on a level playing field.
They are now “reviewing the case”.
The controversy has cast a negative light over the Taosieach’s St Patrick’s week trip, which is continuing today with a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence.
Now it’s emerged that Donald Trump offered assistance to an Irish environmental group to object to a wind farm near his Doonbeg golf resort.
Friends of the Irish Environment say that they had objected to the development on ecological grounds, but declined Trump’s offer of help to maintain their independence.
Director of the group Tony Lowes says he put two and two together when he heard Leo Varadkar’s comments.
The controversy has shone a negative light over the Taosieach’s St Patrick’s week trip, where a number of issues aimed at protecting Ireland’s interests in the US were discussed, including trade, the undocumented Irish, Brexit and the border.
The US President has also said that he will visit Ireland and has alluded to playing Golf at his Doonbeg Golf Resort.
Doonbeg resident Tommy Commerford says if that’s the case, he will be welcomed with open arms.
Leo Varadkar’s visit draws to a close tomorrow when he takes part in the New York St Patrick’s Day parade.
He had one final meeting in Washington today with Vice President Mike Pence where he was expected to raise the issue of gay rights but no reporters were allowed attend.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Taoiseach’s comments have been made just days after the government warned County Councills not to “undermine due process” on planning.
The warning came from the Department of Local Government on March 9th last, and was sent to all Councillors nationwide, including in Clare.
The letter, which has been seen by Clare FM, was sent under the instruction of Minister Eoghan Murphy and warns Councillors that discussions of private planning applications could be viewed as an attempt to “exert undue influence” over the planning process.
