THE media was urged to pay heed to unrest that local representatives claim exists between themselves and Mayor of Limerick John Moran.
Speaking at the May meeting of the Metropolitan District of Limerick City and County Council, Council members voiced their discontent with Mayor Moran in a public forum.
During a motion calling for a community park in the Singland/Bloodmill area, the division between councillors and Limerick’s first citizen became alparent.
Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon, was not happy when told the Council has a new parks advisory expert group, convened by the Mayor, to look at areas available to them across the city.
Featuring councillors Joe Leddin (representing the Strategic Policy Committee) and Seán Hartigan (co-chair), the expert group is also linked in with the Office of Public Works, Coillte, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon (FF) hit out that this was a “select” group that does not consider the views of the Metropolitan District’s 21 councillors.
“That’s the problem with the directly-elected Mayor and all these committees that have been set up, the councillors here have been ignored and it’s about time the media realise that as well. It’s just not good enough,” Cllr O’Hanlon claimed.
“The people working on the ground are the councillors and they know what’s required. It’s not good enough that the Mayor is setting up these committees and totally ignoring the representatives from the Metropolitan District.”
Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely joined the fray, pointing out that councillors, just like the Mayor, have a democratic mandate from the people of Limerick.
“Some people within the executive need to be reminded of this,” Cllr Kiely hit out.
“There should be a collaborative approach but it doesn’t seem to be happening. This is a constant theme now in the Council, nearly a year now, and I think the media needs to understand that as well,” she added.
Council Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Dan McSweeney (FG) told members that this was the first time he was hearing about this parks task-force.
“The executive seem to be doing a lot of work which is welcomed but there needs to be a collaborative approach. I would like to say, as somebody who was democratically elected, that we elected members know our areas very well,” Cllr McSweeney said.
“I would have concerns in relation to these committees that are taking place privately with no updates provided to us. So far, this is the first we’ve heard of it. It’s very disappointing.”
Head of Environment and Climate Action at the local authority, Aidan Finn, replied to councillors.
“The mayoral advisory group is just that, an advisory group. The normal auspices of the Council apply. Anything that comes out of the group will have to go through the normal SPCs and Part 8s, and to the Council as ideas that need to be ratified,” Mr Finn assured Council members.
Cllr O’Hanlon was far from reassured and issued a strong warning to the Council executive, saying: “That’s all very fine, Aidan, but there’s 21 councillors here elected to the Metropolitan District, and if the Mayor wants to go off with high-falutin’ advisory groups and ignore us, all I can say is ‘I’ll be finished up next month’.
“I can tell you this much, if the Metropolitan District (councillors) are not involved in the initial stages of any of these plans, well then funding will be an issue, as far as I am concerned”.
