A Bundoran Fianna Fail councillor who has repeatedly clashed with his party colleagues on the council, including the prominent businessman and hotelier, Mr Sean McEniff, is facing expulsion from the party.
Mr John O'Donnell said he believed the motion to expel him, which is before a meeting of the local cumann tonight, came about because he had publicised the fact that the business interests of three of his fellow Fianna Fail councillors had not adhered strictly to planning regulations.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr McEniff accepted that two applications for retention had been submitted to Bundoran UDC in relation to the Allingham Arms Hotel, of which he is a co-director, and the Donegal Adventure Centre, which is owned by one of his companies, McEniff (Bundoran) Ltd.
He said that these applications for retention of extensions were for "minor alterations" and related to the erection of fire escapes demanded by the fire officer. "At no time have I abused the planning regulations," he said.
Mr McEniff's daughter, Ms Elizabeth McIntyre, a member of the UDC, is a co-director of the Allingham Arms Hotel.
Mr O'Donnell has argued that members of the UDC and their business interests should adhere strictly to the planning regulations.
"When someone applies for retention, that development is illegal until planning permission is granted," he said.
The third member of the council criticised by Mr O'Donnell is the chairman, Mr Tiernan Brady. He told The Irish Times that he accepted an access ramp to a block of apartments he built was in breach of regulations because it encroached onto a public footpath. "As soon as it was pointed out to me that it was in breach of regulations it was taken away."
Mr Brady said he believed Mr O'Donnell should be expelled from Fianna Fail because he had voted against his colleagues in selecting members for two important committees in the county, the County Development Board and the Strategic Policy Committee. Mr O'Donnell said he believed these were open votes and that was why he didn't vote with other Fianna Fail members. The party whip was removed from Mr O'Donnell in July.
The motion to come before the Bundoran cumann states that "in view of the inability of Councillor John O'Donnell to co-operate with the team of Fianna Fail councillors, and his consequent unbecoming conduct, it is proposed that he should be expelled from the party".
Mr O'Donnell has gone on local radio on a number of occasions criticising fellow Fianna Fail councillors.
The chairman of Bundoran cumann, Mr Desmond Donovan, said the motion to expel Mr O'Donnell had nothing to do either with planning issues he had raised or the way he had voted on certain occasions.
"I am solely concerned with unbecoming conduct. You can't have people running around abusing other members of the party," Mr Donovan said.
He said he was reflecting the concerns of the "rank-and-file" members who believed the party was being damaged.
He said he accepted that it would be better if Fianna Fail councillors did not make retention applications to the UDC, which is the planning authority.
Mr O'Donnell said that if the cumann votes to expel him tonight he would appeal the decision to higher levels in the party up to the national executive if necessary.
"I believe the real reason I am being thrown out is because I have raised these planning issues . .
Mr McEniff said that while some people wanted "to have a go at him", he believed he had the support of most people in Bundoran.