Minister and brother split over supermarket on floodplain

A JUNIOR minister who is backing a retail giant's proposal to build a supermarket on a floodplain is facing strong opposition from his brother.

Laois-Offaly Fianna Fail TD John Moloney publicly supports Tesco's bid to locate a store on a four-acre site prone to flooding in Portarlington, Co Laois. He says developers would eliminate flood risks and rejuvenate the town centre.

However, his younger brother, Laois county councillor Michael Moloney, "totally opposes" the deputy's stance.

"I disagree with him saying he thinks the flooding issue can be rectified. The experts say you can't just relocate flood plains. The silt has built up over hundreds of years and it holds the water. To do away with them is going to be catastrophic for people in towns like Carlow, Athy and further down," he said.

It's not the first time for the Laois brothers to come to blows in politics. Michael Moloney was co-opted onto Laois County Council by Fianna Fail because of the dual mandate rule after his brother, John, was elected to the Dail.

However, Michael later caused controversy by leaving the party to become an independent councillor.

"They used to call my brother 'Dev' in boarding school, he was always a Fianna Failer. I'm more of an issues person. I was elected as a Fianna Fail councillor but I left after a falling out over the last county development plan," said Cllr Moloney.

John Moloney, who is Minister of State at the department of Health, said he "fully supported" Tesco's plans to build a supermarket in Portarlington, adding that his brother "did his own thing politically".

Laois County Council granted permission for the supermarket to be built on a site adjacent to the river Barrow in the town in February.

The application has been referred to An Bord Pleanala after several objections. However, local business people have hit back at concerns over Tesco's plans to build on the floodplain.

They say the supermarket has committed to spending €1m on flood relief works.

Eimear Ni Bhraonain
Irish Independent

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