Comment: An Bord Pleanála has become nothing more than a rubber stamp for developers

The received wisdom on An Bord Pleanála (ABP) used to be that it was a truly impartial decision-making body. And it largely was. Unlike many local authorities, the planning tribunals didn’t implicate ABP. It was a part of the planning system where brown envelopes were used only for sending post.

Here’s what a Bord Pleanála inspector copied-and-pasted from a developer’s application for controversial strategic housing development

A Bord Pleanála (ABP) inspector copied-and-pasted into her report a false statement from a developer’s own application for a controversial strategic housing development (SHD).

An Bord Pleanála’s Hyde and Fagan unlawfully refused county Kerry housing development

Disgraced An Bord Pleanála (ABP) ex-deputy chairperson Paul Hyde and board member Michelle Fagan unlawfully refused a county Kerry apartment development. The duo voted against the 32-unit development without a legally required third board member.

Robert Troy’s annual asset declarations among those lost by Westmeath County Council

Ex-junior minister Robert Troy’s annual asset declarations are among those Westmeath County Council (WCC) says it has lost. The local authority also refused to say if it purchased any other properties from the Longford-Westmeath TD.

Ervia chief legal officer appointed herself to investigate energy whistleblower allegations

The chief legal officer at Ervia appointed herself to investigate an internal allegation of significant wrongdoing at one of the state utility company’s subsidiaries.

Comment: The Irish women's football team have nothing to apologise for – thank them and be on your way

The true meaning of what happened in Hampden Park this week was indivisible.

Green Party minister Roderic O’Gorman failed to act on report of dire conditions in refugee accommodation

Minister for equality Roderic O’Gorman ignored a report of dire conditions in refugee accommodation in Letterkenny, county Donegal.

Rainwater flows on sockets in makeshift kitchen at refugee accommodation in Donegal

Up to 40 refugees are being forced to share what is effectively an outdoor, makeshift kitchen almost completely exposed to the elements in Letterkenny, county Donegal.

State film agency gave board member’s company €75,000 in Covid-19 support funding

A Screen Ireland board member’s company received a €75,000 film production grant from the state body.

An Bord Pleanála chairperson declared he shouldn’t vote on certain organisation’s applications. He did it anyway

Despite voluntarily restricting himself from voting on Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) planning applications, the Bord Pleanála (ABP) chairperson ruled on several of the organisation's cases.

Ukrainian refugees housed in illegally converted Donegal basement office, given weekly €30 Lidl vouchers for food

Up to 24 Ukrainian refugees are being housed in an illegally converted construction company office in a basement in Donegal. They’re given €30 Lidl vouchers each for their weeks’ food.

Irish fund in three years buys more than 850 second-hand homes for rental market, claims €20 million+ profit

A single Irish fund has in the last three years bought more than 850 second-hand homes and is now among the biggest landlords in the state.