Two county councillors have been found to be in breach of ethics laws after they were filmed agreeing to help an undercover reporter with planning permission in exchange for personal gain.

The Standards in Public Office (SiPO) Commission has been investigating whether the actions of the councillors - uncovered by an RTÉ Investigates programme - broke ethics regulations.

The programme featured an undercover reporter posing as an international investor interested in acquiring sites for wind energy production in Ireland.

In meetings with three county councillors, the 'investor' said she needed help with local opposition and reducing planning permission risks.

She warned that the meetings should be kept private and that the councillors should not tell anyone they had met on planning matters.

The three councillors featured were Sligo County Councillor Joe Queenan, Donegal County Councillor John O’Donnell and Monaghan County Councillor Hugh McElvaney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=31&v=5bNVR-3ZJHs

In its report this morning, SiPO found against Councillor Queenan in three out of four alleged breaches of regulations and against Councillor O'Donnell in all three he was accused of.

Councillor McElvaney's case is the subject of an ongoing High Court judicial review.

Councillor O'Donnell

The investigation found that Councillor O'Donnell offered to help the 'investor' with "issues such as planning and local opposition" in return for financial reward.

"The Commission is of the opinion that Councillor O’Donnell made it clear to the undercover reporter that a financial reward would be required for his involvement in the proposed windfarm project," it said.

It noted that he "sought an assurance of payment" in return for help identifying sites, with the planning process, with zoning and for lobbying his fellow councillors.

"In giving such assistance, Councillor O’Donnell made it clear that he would expect, at a certain stage of the project, payment in return," it said.

It found that the breaches of the regulations  were "committed intentionally" and that they were "in all the circumstances, a serious matter."

Councillor Queenan

It found that Councillor Queenan agreed to help with planning permission, local opposition, local landowners and the planning application process in return for money.

It said Councillor Queenan had agreed to help the fictitious investor in return for "a financial reward in the form of possible future investment opportunities in ventures to which Councillor Queenan was personally involved in."

It also found that he "permitted his private and personal interests as a business person to come into conflict with his duties as a Councillor."

It warned that the breaches were "committed recklessly" and were "in all the circumstances" serious matters.

It also found that Councillor Queenan had failed to set out the "full particulars" of his declarable interests in the Local Government annual declaration form.

It said this breach was "committed negligently and that it was, in all the circumstances, a serious matter."

However, the commission found in favour of Councillor Queenan on one charge - finding that it was not satisfied "on the evidence before it" that he had offered to do his job as a councilor in return for financial reward from the investor.