A Mayo Fianna Fail councillor told the High Court yesterday that it was never his intention that a complete ban would be imposed on mining in parts of the county. Mr Seamus Hughes admitted making anti-mining statements to local newspapers but said: "Politicians, including myself, frequently make statements with the intention of ingratiating ourselves with the electorate."
He was not saying it was acceptable to say untrue things to local newspapers but rather that politicians "exaggerate and get the best gloss on their own political stance at a particular time".
He was being cross-examined on the seventh day of an action for some £2 million damages by Glencar Exploration Company and Andaman Resources against Mayo County Council over the council's insertion of a mining ban in a County Development Plan formally approved in 1992.
The ban, which applied to one-seventh of the county, was overturned by the High Court in December 1992. In court yesterday, Mr Hughes said that if a planning application came before the council he would have taken on board all views and come to an objective opinion on it. If it meant taking an unpopular decision, he would have done so.
He said he had called on Mayo's Fine Gael Dail deputies to exercise their influence to persuade the then minister for energy, Mr Michael Lowry, to refuse the granting of exploration licences. Much of his concern related to the impact of mining on tourism.
Mr Paul Sreenan SC, for Glencar, asked if Mr Hughes had raised the renewal of prospecting licences in the Dail in an attempt to embarrass Mr Lowry.
Mr Hughes agreed he raised the matter and issued many press statements. Mr Hughes agreed he had made a statement that Mayo County Council had declared the area closed to mining and that the will of the people had to be heeded. He knew it was incorrect.
Asked why he made the statement knowing it to be incorrect, he said: "This is a local newspaper. Politicians, including myself, frequently make statements with the intention of ingratiating ourselves with the electorate. I don't take away from that. I accept that as part of the trade."
Mr Sreenan said: "Let me get this right, Mr Hughes. Are you saying it is acceptable to tell untruths to a local newspaper but not to a national newspaper?"
Mr Hughes replied: "I wouldn't like to agree with you in the sense if you are trying to get me to state that I am telling an untruth."
The hearing continues today.