Poster boys link Ahern to construction group
Standards in Public Office Commission warns that if a developer allows its staff to put up election signs for free, it can still amount to a political donation
IT appears that there may still be links between the developers and Fianna Fail, certainly if the identity of some of the poster boys for Maurice Ahern are anything to go by.
Caught this week on YouTube was a van-load of Eastern European construction workers erecting Ahern posters on lampposts in Dublin Central. They did not speak much English -- but they were able to confirm that they did indeed work for Wright Construction, which is based in Howth and is part of the Wright seafood 'n' politics dynasty.
The Standards in Public Office Commission said this could amount to a donation. "If a company sends out its workforce to put up posters that would be a donation as well as election expenses for a candidate," they told us.
"Even if it's done for free, it would have to be charged at the full commercial value of the service."
In case you were wondering, candidates in four-seat constituencies are allowed spend up to €37,650 during an election campaign.
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PROPERTY developer Noel Smyth is currently applying for permission to build a new home off Torca Road in the leafy hills of Dalkey. The house in question is bounded by San Elmo and San Elmo Lodge, a listed Victorian mansion next to the Cat's Ladder -- 238 zigzagging steps which climb steeply from Vico Road up to Torca Road over picturesque Killiney Bay.
Mr Smyth's plan is to demolish an existing derelict outbuilding of around 25sqm and construct a new two-storey three-bed 440sqm detached house with four outside car parking spaces.
Access will be off the existing laneway. It is not clear if Mr Smyth plans to move into the home himself or perhaps more likely sell it on.
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AN Taisce Ireland's national trust luminaries, Ian Lumley and Michael Smith, are involved in a joint venture to set up a new restaurant with art gallery and wine bar on Upper Ormond Quay.
The pair have sought planning permission to change the use of No 6, Little Strand Street, as well as Nos 5B and 6 on Upper Ormond Quay from approved retail/art gallery.
They plan to rename the existing shop while retaining the current lettering style and scale, as well as reinstating and making new openings between the three premises.
The building housed a gallery which closed last year while an old ballroom in one of the houses could make a great restaurant -- if people were still eating out.
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DEEPDRILL Developments, a property company owned by publicans Liam and Des O'Dwyer, has filed a petition with the High Court to shut down Danninger, the main operating company behind one of Ireland's biggest developers, Liam Carroll.
According to The Insolvency Journal, the petition was filed by Adrian Shanahan, the financial director of Deepdrill, and it is expected to come up again on Monday week.
The brothers set up Deepdrill to develop a site on Abbey Street in Dublin bought from Dublin Bus. In 2007, Danninger challenged the awarding of the contract, which included building a bus interchange, arguing that Dublin Bus did not follow proper procedure. It lost the case in the High Court.
