FINE Gael councillor John Sheahan took umbrage with comments made by Independent councillor Maria Donoghue on local radio in recent days and sought clarification on her remarks.
Speaking at November’s full monthly meeting, Cllr Sheahan said Cllr Donoghue was on Limerick’s Live 95 that morning and spoke of an increase in the cost of residential parking permits under Budget 2026.
“I don’t believe we did, but maybe she had a different budget book than me?” Cllr Sheahan queried.
“She also declared we had an opposition in the Council, as in a grouping, and so that means we must have a ruling system as well. Maybe those might need to be clarified.”
Cllr Donoghue said she believed there was to be an increase on resident parking fees, and acknowledged her mistake.
“Our Mayor is looking for it, but it wasn’t part of the book,” Cllr Sheahan explained.
On the matter of the grouping within the Council chamber, Cllr Donoghue responded: “There is a grouping, is there not?”
“There was a grouping established here the day after or the week after the local elections.”
Cllr Sheehan replied that “it’s only a grouping that’s recognised the odd time. It’s only recognised when it wants to be.”
“I’m not sure how to react to that, to be perfectly honest,” Cllr Donoghue fired back.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Collins joined in to congratulate Cllr Donoghue and her “grouping” for proposing the Council’s 2026 budget, saying: “I’m sure the business people of Limerick are very happy with it.”