Members of Clare County Council have been accused of bringing the council into disrepute after pushing through a number of last-minute rezoning decisions against the advice of planners.
At the council's adjourned October meeting, Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) made the accusation as members discussed the adoption of the South-East Clare Economic Development Plan, which includes Shannon airport.
She said she has been subjected to intense lobbying and pressure in relation to the development plan.
The Shannon-based councillor - who is chairwoman of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) - proposed that the plan be adopted as presented to councillors and that no changes be made.
Noting there was a lack of support from councillors to adopt the recommended plan, Cllr McCarthy said: "I am concerned that there may be changes to the plan and that's putting it lightly."
Cllr McCarthy's move to adopt the plan failed to get a seconder and a number of rezonings were then put to the council.
In each case, the county manager, Mr Alec Fleming, asked the councillors to put forward planning reasons as to why changes should be made.
On a proposal to rezone lands for housing at Sixmilebridge, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said the rezoning was a logical and natural extension to the settlement area.
However, Mr Alan Williams, an executive planning officer, told councillors that rezoning "would be contrary to the sustainable growth of Sixmilebridge".
The rezoning was voted on and Cllr McCarthy said: "I don't like what is happening here and this is bringing the council chamber into disrepute."
The council's head of planning, Mr Ger Dollard, expressed his own unease with the last-minute rezonings to a plan drawn up over the past two years.
Another rezoning motion was tabled by Cllr Bernard Hanrahan (FF) in respect of lands at Quin. A motion to rezone lands for a hotel complex at Newmarket-on-Fergus against the recommendation of planners was also passed.
Cllr McCarthy was the only councillor to vote against the altered plan.
The plan goes on public display for four weeks before going back to the council for a final vote.
