Cooney representing both sides of conflict

A conflict in representation arose for an East Clare councillor this week when it was discovered he was in contact with two sides of a planning application.
“I’ll work with the people and highlight the concerns that the people have. Anything I can do to help and support the people, I’ll be there to do that,” Councillor Joe Cooney said at a public meeting discussing locals’ opposition to a seaplane operation in Mountshannon.
However, Councillor Cooney was met with mixed reaction after it emerged minutes later that he had in fact made a representation on behalf of developers Harbourair Ireland Ltd, when the plans were lodged last November.
“I have a representation on it [the file], I’ve no problem saying that but my representation can be for the people as well as for the developers,” Councillor Cooney told those present.
The meeting, which was held in the Mountshannon Hotel on Monday night, was attended by representatives of the East Clare angling clubs and gun clubs, as well as County Tipperary angling clubs from across the lake. Addressing the meeting from the top table were local representatives Deputy Timmy Dooley, Councillors Joe Cooney, Pat Hayes and Pat Burke and chairing the meeting was Aidan Hickey, secretary of the Mountshannon Angling Club.
The gathering was called, arising from local concern, to discuss what route locals could take in respect of a planning application to develop a floating pontoon that would service a seaplane operation at Dooras, Mountshannon.
Among the points raised were issues surrounding environmental, health and safety matters and what effect, if any, the proposed development would have on the local community, in particular those who use the lake.
Addressing concerns, Councillor Cooney stated, “In fairness, they [developers Harbourair Ireland Ltd] did start on the wrong foot and they should have come and met the people in the area and let the people know what is happening. We probably all were caught unaware. It was only a couple of weeks back that we all realised what this is about. The application went in before Christmas. People didn’t really realise at that stage what was involved in it. But as people got more information, we do now realise what is involved in it.”
It transpires that Councillor Cooney had lodged his representation on behalf of the developers with Clare County Council on November 11, 2009.
Arising from the debate, calls for support were sought from the floor from the panel of public representatives. Each politician was asked if they supported the people in their opposition to this proposed development.
Responding to this request, Councillor Joe Cooney stated, “We have to take the people’s concerns into account and we can see that the people are very concerned here tonight, as you said with such a fine crowd here, there’s huge concern. To move it forward we have to think about what action we can take. We can voice our opinion but it’s on further information, so we’re not really going to know what way the planners are looking at this. You have to take the people’s concerns here tonight into consideration. We’re elected to represent the people. We will work with the people. I will work with the people and highlight the concerns that the people have and anything I can do to help and support the people I’ll be there to do that.”
Last year’s North-West European Election candidate, Michael McNamara asked of the panel, “Have any representations been made?”
Councillor Cooney responded, “I have made a representation”.
He clarified this by saying, “I just put my name on the file to start off. I did know some of the group involved in it, they did talk to me and I did make representation on it. But the one good thing about having representation on the file is that a planner doesn’t have to talk to you if you don’t have representation on the file. At least when the representation is on the file, then we are aware what’s going on. If not, she didn’t need to talk to me if she didn’t want to. I have representation on it, I’ve no problem saying that but my representation can be for the people as well as for the developers.”
The representation remains on the Harbourair Ireland Ltd, planning file and speaking following the meeting on Monday, Councillor Cooney told The Clare Champion, “that representation was made a couple of months ago. I knew the people that put the application in and they were on about getting jobs. I can see the people’s concerns and they have major concerns and this is going to cause difficulty. As I said, I’m there to represent the people of East Clare and I can see there are major concerns.”
However, having put it to Councillor Cooney that the developers were also from East Clare, he responded, “It [the seaplane operation] is a new thing to East Clare and we have to take them into consideration. The concerns of the people of Scariff, Mountshannon and Whitegate need to be addressed. I’m not saying I’m in favour or against this but it needs to be given serious consideration,” he concluded.