THIS Monday’s full meeting of Limerick City and County Council was deemed “a good day for local democracy” as councillors were allowed back on the boards of local authority-run designated activity companies (DACs).
In his very first major row with Council members after being elected in June 2024, Mayor John Moran raised concerns about how DAC board members are appointed. At the time, he told local representatives it is “the prerogative of the shareholder to choose directors that can best serve that company”.
“In order to do that, I think it is appropriate that we actually take into account the skills of the various people. They should only serve on those boards if they can bring specific knowledge.”
Councillors and Council management sought legal advice in relation to DAC board nominations, and the powers of Ireland’s first directly-elected mayor to enforce such a position. Meanwhile, Mayor Moran proposed to carry out an independent review of each Limerick DAC to confirm they are fully in line with best governance practice and applicable governance codes.
However, at the start of 2026, Mayor Moran conceded and invited councillors to formally apply for board positions.
This week, after seeking advice from Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, councillors this week were back on the boards of the DACs once again.
Mayor Moran went one further and asked for nominations for his shareholder management committee, modelled on the same structure he put in place in the Department of Finance to manage shareholdings that the State owned in the banks.
Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney welcomed the turnaround from Limerick’s first citizen.
“This is a good day for local democracy. Finally, after just shy of two years and after something that I have went to the ends of the Earth to raise the issue of good governance on the DACs, I’m delighted that nominations will be accepted by the Mayor, and will be put forward by him,” he enthused.
Not everyone was as excited. A number of councillors who were nominated to the boards two years ago, this week asked that their names be removed and other nominees sought.
Fianna Fáil councillor Bridie Collins told Mayor Moran that he previously alleged she was “conflicted” to sit on the Discover Limerick DAC as she lives in Adare.
“You made it clear that you did not want councillors on the DACs. You made it clear that we had to resign off those DACs, which we did, despite the fact that you are now indicating to councillors to put their names forward,” she said.
She told the Mayor: “You named me specifically for being conflicted as I happen to live in the village of Adare. You have made it so I cannot sit on that DAC, despite the fact I would have been interested.”
Fine Gael councillor Olivia O’Sullivan deemed it “insulting”, as a councillor who previously sat on the board of two DACs, and gave “hundreds of hours of work at board level”.
Cllr John Sheahan (FG) asked parties across the chamber, who had remained silent for much of the debate, if they were happy with the outcome.
“We don’t want a situation where go out of here and see it in the press tomorrow that there’s a few annoyed people in Limerick City and County Council holding up the whole show. If the rest are happy, let them stand up now an say they’re happy,” Cllr Sheahan insisted.
Independent Ireland councillor John O’Donoghue was quick to reply, saying: “I think the fact that I have had my named removed from that list shows you exactly how I feel.”
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme