On July 10th  last, Tom O’Donoghue, of Nenagh, County Tipperary, (did the right thing and) lodged an objection with an Bord Pleanala against approval of the Private Hospital Co Location project in Dooradoyle. An Bord acknowledged receipt of his objection that same day. A couple of days later the cheque he was obliged to include with his submission was drawn from his account: proof, you would think, that An Bord were satisfied they were dealing with a valid appeal.

About a week later, word began to spread around the medical community that Tom’s appeal had been ruled invalid. How people had gotten word of this news was anybody’s guess, but when the gossip finally reached Tom ear he called the Bord for clarification at which point he was informed that, indeed, the rumours were in fact true: although he himself had received no communication of any kind from An Bord to the effect (nor has he yet received anything in writing), his appeal had been considered invalid. The reason given was as follows:

When submitting a planning appeal, the appellant is obliged to include proof that s/he made a valid observation during the five week period directly after the planning application was originally lodged with the Planning Authority. To comply with this requirement, Tom submitted a copy of the receipt he had received from Limerick City Council acknowledging the submission of his observation and the payment of the requisite fees. However, the people Tom spoke to at An Bord explained that this ‘receipt’ did not constitute sufficient proof. They needed more. And on this, the whole thing turned.

How extremely convenient: on absolutely the flimsiest of technicalities, a very well put together objection raising pertinent and probing questions on such an incredibly important issue is considered invalid, leaving the Government miraculously free to press on with their (in my own view, ludicrous and hair-brained) health service provision ideas. I’m sure some of the more paranoid amongst you are thinking to yourselves right now that something untoward must certainly have happened. All I can possibly say is: how very extremely suspiciously unbelievably incredulously dubiously and spectacularly convenient it all is.