Flurry of activity at Fáilte Ireland on same day Varadkar raised Trump call
THERE was a flurry of activity at Fáilte Ireland on the same day Leo Varadkar controversially emailed the body outlining Donald Trump’s concerns about a wind farm development in Co Clare.
There had previously been 10 months without any apparent internal discussion on the development of a wind farm near the Trump-owned Doonbeg resort.
But the activity, 30 minutes before Mr Varadkar’s email, has now raised questions about whether he made further contacts with the tourist authority on the US tycoon’s behalf.
In April 2013, Fáilte Ireland had attended a planning hearing objecting to the new wind farm because of its potential to alter the character of the landscape “and induce negative visual impacts” from the course.
But documents show the next time it appears to have been discussed was just 30 minutes before an email from then-tourism minister Leo Varadkar.
It is unclear what sparked the internal discussion, so close to Mr Varadkar’s email to Fáilte Ireland’s then CEO Shaun Quinn informing him of his discussion with Mr Trump.
Mr Varadkar’s intervention was the subject of controversy during the Taosieach’s St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington.
During a speech on Capitol Hill, Mr Varadkar attempted to make a joke about the fact he contacted Clare County Council after receiving a call from Mr Trump four years ago.
Mr Varadkar’s comments landed him firmly in the firing line with Opposition TDs, and he was forced to row back on the comments and confirm he had not contacted Clare County Council. However, he confirmed he asked Fáilte Ireland about the wind farm development.
A planning application was lodged for the construction of nine wind turbines 2km south of Doonbeg on February 3, 2014.
At 4pm on February 24, 2014, internal emails show Fáilte Ireland officials discussing the issue. This was the same day that Mr Varadkar wrote to Mr Quinn, at 4.30pm. He said: “I took a call from Donald Trump last Friday.
“He is concerned about plans to build very large wind farms near Doonbeg. I don’t want to get into the nitty gritty of it but I did commit to asking Fáilte to review the planning applications or development plan for Clare as appropriate with a view to making observations if the agency shared his concerns about the impact on landscapes and tourism. I would appreciate it if you could do so.” He signed the email: “Leo.”
The following day, officials at the tourism organisation discussed drafting a response to be sent to Mr Varadkar.
The response drafted for Mr Quinn noted An Bord Pleanála’s earlier refusal for a 45-turbine wind farm located in the same townland and Fáilte Ireland’s objections.
“I have commissioned an assessment of the likely impacts arising from the proposed development on the tourism amenity value in the area.
“This assessment will include – as our previous assessment did – an assessment of the likely impact on the amenity value of Doonbeg Lodge and Golf Resort.”
The application was eventually found to be invalid for technical reasons but was resubmitted. Fáilte Ireland then proceeded with its objections.