Desmond: 'entitled to protection'

Leading businessman Dermot Desmond has lobbied against any rezoning of land owned by RTE at Donnybrook in Dublin 4.
Desmond said there is "not a single reason which could be logically argued, other than pure commercial exploitation, to justify any change in the land use zoning as they relate to these lands".
Desmond says the lands have some of the finest building of the last century and "should not be undermined by an inappropriate re-designation". He also said if the lands are not immediately required by RTE they should be used for education, social or institutional purposes.
"This is land owned by a state authority and should not be sought to be exploited for purely commercial purposes," he wrote.
Separately, Desmond has appealed plans by RTE to redevelop the Montrose complex to An Bord Pleanála, saying he was "entitled to be protected from insensitive and inappropriate development and to expect all necessary measures will be introduced so to minimise the impact on this property".
An Taisce, the German embassy and the Arts Council have also appealed the plans.
Desmond has appealed a number of plans for high-rise buildings in the Ballsbridge and Donnybrook areas in recent years.