“THERE is a difference between robust debate and personal hostility. When disagreement becomes dismissive or mocking — when serious health concerns are reduced to trivial language and not accommodated — it diminishes the very institution itself.”
Those were the words from Limerick Mayor John Moran, who came out on the offensive against those he claims are responsible for narrowing debate and undermining his democratic mandate within Limerick Council.
In a lengthy blog post on his personal website this week, the directly-elected Mayor took aim at a minority of councillors in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael (FFG), that he accused of consistently showing opposition to almost every significant initiative he has brought forward.
According to Mayor Moran, at last week’s Corporate Plan meeting, extensive amendments were asked for, including over 20 pages of new text. What followed, the Mayor argued, became a compressed and pressured process in which he was effectively isolated from the chamber where key discussions should have been taking place.
He further alleged that councillors took “advantage” of his ill-health at the meeting by voting to pass the Corporate Plan after he had left five hours into the marathon seven-hour meeting after he “took seriously unwell”.
“All these demands were compiled by a small negotiating group for FFG during an adjournment of the meeting called for as soon as it had started while other councillors and officials waited around. My requests for time to get additional help to clarify unclear points to prepare a response were rejected out of hand and ridiculed,” the Mayor wrote on his blog.
He described the events as “one of the lowest points since my election”, writing that “I have long suspected that the strategy of some has been to make the role unbearable — to create sufficient pressure that I might simply walk away. I have been told directly that such a strategy was openly discussed.”
When contacted by the Limerick Post, Independent councillor Ursula Gavan said last week’s meeting should have been paused as Mayor Moran was clearly unwell. She considered the continuance of the meeting a “tactic” to exclude not just the Mayor but opposition councillors, describing it as “appalling and an affront to local democracy”.
“We have a new Lockout in Limerick,” she hit out.
“Our Mayor and opposition councillors have been excluded from democratic debate. My own proposals were treated with disdain by a cabal of FFG insiders behind closed doors. The net result is a dysfunctional Council that continues to fail the people of Limerick.”.
Green Party councillor Seán Hartigan also saw the seven-hour meeting as an affront to democracy. Anyone outside of FFG, Cllr Hartigan insisted, were left feeling excluded.
“It’s no secret that many have done everything they can to scupper any progress by the Mayor from the get-go. The discussions of how to get rid of him began in the racecourse when it became evident he was going to win,” he claimed.
Cllr Hartigan also maintained that the ongoing conflict between FFG and the Mayor is stopping progress in Limerick.
“People need to let their councillors know that this is not acceptable. They need to ask them why they voted to pass the adoption of a Corporate Plan after the Mayor had taken ill and left the building. This was one of the lowest points in this Council.”
Limerick Sinn Féin representatives warned that the actions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael risk undermining the success of the directly-elected Mayor model before it has been given a fair opportunity to work.
“What happened in the Council chamber last Tuesday is deeply concerning. Major amendments to the Corporate Plan were introduced at the last minute, without proper circulation or the opportunity for full public debate. That is not how democratic scrutiny should work,” Cllr PJ Carey commented.
Cllr Sharon Benson said the ongoing behaviour of some FFG members risks blocking the very change the public voted for.
“For years, Sinn Féin has argued that local government in Ireland is overly centralised and that Limerick should be empowered to shape its own future. The directly-elected Mayor was intended to give Limerick stronger leadership, more accountability, and greater ability to deliver for communities,” she said.
Independent councillor Maria O’Donoghue reiterated feelings that indepdentents and councillors from smaller parties “felt excluded” from the meeting, saying that it “was adjourned repeatedly, without clear explanation or justification, by FFG. There was little to no genuine effort to liaise or negotiate with our group.”
“Any expressed concern for either the Mayor or desire for inclusion of our group felt superficial and amounted to little more than lip service.”
However, Labour Party councillor Joe Leddin believes the Mayor needs to do more to bring unity within the Council chamber if he is to direct the local authority into the future.
“The Mayor is regrettably losing the room,” Cllr Leddin said. “His blog post speaks of leadership but that is what’s lacking.”
Respect, Cllr Leddin pointed out, works both ways. He wants to see the Mayor succeed for the betterment of Limerick, but feels a reboot is way past due if the air is to be cleared.
“While I don’t condone personal hostility shown by some immature councillors, the reality is the Mayor must reflect on how, in my view, he can win back the room. The Mayor rejected an arranged facilitated workshop because he disliked the facilitator selected rather than focusing on the end objective, namely agreeing our corporate plan. A failure to look closer to home will not serve the organisation, or more importantly Limerick, any good,” the Labour councillor opined.
A statement from the Fine Gael group at Limerick Council said that “recent debate around the Corporate Plan reflects the reality of a shared democratic system within Limerick City and County Council. The Mayor and councillors alike hold mandates from the people of Limerick, and robust discussion is part of responsible governance.”
“While we may not always agree on process or priorities, our collective focus must remain on delivering practical results for our communities. We remain committed to constructive engagement with Mayor John Moran and all colleagues to ensure the new system works effectively for everyone.”
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme