Dublin runway noise row will also drain Fingal planning resources, expert warns

But one independent councillor, Cathal Boland, who has the experience of representing the local authority on a European airport regions committee, is concerned by the noise afflicting local residents – and also by the impact on the council itself of the issue.

“I am concerned that the planning department has this enormous piece of work to do, and it needs the support of international expertise with experience of these types of problems at other airports,” he said.

“There is considerable expertise within the department – but they have finite resources. Something must be coming under pressure.”

But Fingal County Manager Anne Marie Farrelly told a meeting of the council last week that there were “external experts involved where they are needed”, but that there was “no short-circuiting” of the enforcement process that was underway.

The council was also receiving external legal advice, she said.

Asked to elaborate, a Fingal County Council spokesperson insisted that the council “has the appropriate resources and expertise to investigate the alleged unauthorised development”.

Pure Clothing to drive growth with pop-up plan

Pure Clothing, a sustainable fashion brand founded in Co Mayo, is all set to hit the road this year in a renovated van to act as a pop-up store.

Co-founder Peter Timlin told Ergo that Pure Clothing, which is listed in Arnotts, would be visiting events across Ireland selling the clothes from the van.

The brand will also be looking to scale up its wholesale retail model for eco-friendly products before it looks to international markets. Timlin and co-founder Richard Grimes, both in their twenties, founded Pure during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brogan celebrates Big Apple win for Peptalk

Bernard Brogan was celebrating St Patrick’s Day in the Big Apple this weekend after landing a big new contract for his employee engagement firm Peptalk. Clune Construction, a firm with Irish roots and a building operation that extends across the US, has signed up the Dublin firm, which is currently making a big push to win business in America.

Clune has 600 staff at offices in Chicago; Dallas; Los Angeles; New York; San Francisco; and Washington, DC. Tánaiste Micheál Martin was also on hand at Clune’s New York to help the former Dublin footballer celebrate his win.