There was to be a vote on 10 November 1997 to determine whether the County Councillors would allow a contravention of their own County Development Plan in order to facilitate the granting of planning permission for the Mullaghmore centre. (See News Update of 2-10-97 for further details)
In order for this motion to be passed a two thirds majority of the County Councillors would have to vote for it. It became obvious that as the date for the vote approached that the requisite two thirds majority would not be obtained. If the vote were lost, the OPW would have the option of appealing to An Bord Pleanala (the planning appeals board)
On 6 November the OPW sent a letter to the Count Council citing its reasons why they felt that the Mullaghmore centre proposal did not contravene the County Development Plan. (go to late submission by OPW) They also pointed out that should the Council require further time to consider the points raised in the letter they would consent to an extension of the time for the determination of the application.
The Fianna Fail majority in the Council Chamber came up with a panic strategy to avoid the impending loss of the material contravention vote (N.B. two-thirds majority needed). They submitted a motion that the vote be deferred for a period of six months, pending the consent of the OPW, on the spurious grounds that there was progress taking place between groups at Kilfenora, Corofin and Mullaghmore. This motion, submitted under Standing Order 29 (d), required only a straight majority to be passed.
The motion to defer the vote was won. There were nineteen votes for the motion, eleven against and one abstention.
Several Councillors noted that there were moves taking place on the ground to resolve conflicts between the different groups. The Burren Action Group, the largest of the community groups opposing the Mullaghmore development, would like to point out that there have been no approaches made to us in any supposed negotiations to resolve the conflicts.
The effect of this vote is not to assist the development of village based centres but rather to delay any further positive moves for a period of six months.
The Burren Action Group is seeking legal advice as to the legality of the events in the County Council.