There was no effort made by anyone at Leinster House to deal with planning corruption at Dublin County Council, property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin told the Mahon tribunal heard today.
Mr Gilmartin made the claim to former environment minister Mr Padraig Flynn at a meeting in April 1989 attended by an executive from Arlington Securities - the firm working with Mr Gilmartin on a proposed development at Bachelors Walk, Dublin.
At the meeting, Mr Flynn had expressed annoyance at the lack of progress in the project. Mr Gilmartin said he "was quite incensed" by the comment because Mr Flynn was aware of problems the developer was experiencing with people looking for bribes in relation to a separate project in west Dublin.
Mr Gilmartin's claims about the activities of elected representatives and officials at Dublin County Council were subject to a Garda investigation and Mr Flynn suggested the matter be left in their hands. He said Mr Gilmartin's statement to detectives would "help stem the carry-on", the tribunal heard.
Mr Gilmartin complained there was "no effort by anybody in Leinster House to do anything about it".
Mr Flynn then suggested that a substantial donation should be made to Fianna Fail to help ease its £3 million debt. The Luton-based developer said he would give it consideration but at the time had no intention of making a payment.
He told the tribunal: "I thought to myself, Jesus Christ, I've to pay for justice or to get a level playing field".
The Arlington official, Mr Ted Dadley said after the meeting: "Everybody's looking for money, it's deja vu".
At a later meeting in May 1989 with the former environment minister, Mr Gilmartin formed the impression that Mr Flynn was "closing ranks with others and was turning his back on me".