Council meeting descends into heated slagging match 

WHAT was expected to be a rubber stamp exercise and decided within seconds, exploded into a heated slagging match between Laois councillors at their September meeting.

At one stage, the debate descended into what could only be described as a scene from Father Ted, with one independent councillor accusing a Fianna Fáil councillor as having a Fine Gael head on him.

The issue under consideration was the formal nomination of seven councillors onto the Laois Local Community Safety Partnership (LLCSP) The LLCSP is replacing the former Laois Joint Policing Committee which can have up to 30 members and will include councillors and representatives from An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Tusla, residents, community groups, business and education.

At the outset of the debate Independent cllr Aisling Moran enquired whether the three groupings of councillors (FG, Fáil and Independents along with one Labour councillor) were to nominate two from each of the groups.

She then went on to propose Independent cllr Ollie Clooney for one of the seven positions.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly from Fianna Fáil proposed cllrs Catherine Fitzgerald and Paddy Bracken, while for Independents cllr James Kelly proposed cllrs Caroline Dwane Stanley and Ben Brennan. Fine Gael’s John King proposed cllrs Conor Bergin, while he in turn proposed cllr John King.

All seemed to be going smoothly up to this point until cllr Moran accused the Fine Gael councillors of having “no women” and then went on to point out that Fine Gael had selected their four people from the one area (Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District).

Cllr Moran said that the independent grouping had been told to get gender and balance in the municipal districts. She said: “And that’s what we did.” “We’re never going to get the right balance,” said the Cathaoirleach of the council cllr Barry Walsh, “it’s a three-year term. I had asked all the groups to try and resolve this, and this is where we’ve ended up.” “Even for the Fine Gael group,” said cllr Moran, “even if Vivienne (cllr Phelan) went on it, it’d be a bit more of a gender balance and it’d be also an extra person in our area Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District.) We’ve only one person (cllr Ben Brennan). We proposed Ben, because we were told it was going to be Vivienne on it. Now all we have in one person in our area, representing the whole district and four people representing the Borris-in-Ossory area.” Cathaoirleach Walsh said: “Next time around (in three-years’ time) you won’t have that.” “We can call it out for what it is,” said cllr Dwane Stanley, “it doesn’t look the best. It’s ultimately each group’s decision. But it doesn’t look good that we can’t even reach a gender balance. It’s a disgrace.” “And there’s only one woman in the Fine Gael group, and we’ve been completely blindsided. Fine Gael is not looking at anything to do with gender balance.” “You’re completely wrong,” countered cllr Bergin.

Cllr Moran said that Fine Gael should reconsider its nominees, one withdraws from the Borris-in-Ossory district and nominate cllr Phelan onto the Graiguecullen/Portarlington district.

Cathaoirleach Walsh said his Fine Gael group had their discussions about the composition of its nominees, “and if you let Vivienne speak for herself, she’s happy enough,” with the group’s nominations.

“Due to the circumstances,” said cllr Clooney, I’ll withdraw me name.” “I’m the only woman on the Fianna Fáil group and if that was the position, I’d get every position that’s going, and that not fair either,” said cllr Fitzgerald.

“That’s why we need more women in politics, said cllr Moran, “that’s why Fianna Fáil need to try looking for more women, but if ye don’t want to then that’s fine. “We’re (Independent grouping) the most gender balanced group in the council.” Wading in at this stage cllr Paddy Bracken told cllr Moran that she had proposed cllr Clooney for the position to which she replied: “We were trying to be as fair as possible and thinking that it was going to be Vivienne that was going to be proposed for our area.” Seizing her opportunity to speak cllr Phelan said: “We discussed this as part of our group, our own interests and what we want to work on. I’m very happy for my (Fine Gael) colleagues to go onto this (LLCSP) committee. But if you (cllr Moran) would like to go on the committee, you go on it. I don’t want to be on any committee based on my gender.” “We’re taking about gender balance”, said cllr Moran. “We did it, Fianna Fáil did it and Fine Gael didn’t.” Responding cllr Phelan said: “There’s five women county councillors here. I’m not the only one. I’m not going to be pulled onto any committee based on my gender, that’s it.” “Youse can do what ye like,” said cllr Moran, “but I want it noted in the minutes that I brought this issue about gender balance up and I think that Fine Gael should be putting one woman forward.” Attempting to calm matters Cathaoirleach Walsh said: “Just say that everything was perfect and all gender balance was here. In three-years’ time what happens? You won’t have gender balance. You are not going to get it perfect.” Not happy with that cllr Moran came back and said: “If the Fine Gael group only had men, then we’d expect it. But you have a woman. And Fine Gael should be putting forward women.” “Cllr Fennelly said: “In three-years’ time there’s going to be a problem with gender balance, because Catherine (cllr Fitzgerald) won’t be allowed to go in the committee.” Cllr Bracken said that if cllr Moran was so worried about gender balance, “why don’t you rejoin Fine Gael,” to which she shot back at him, “why don’t you join Fine Gael, there’s more Fine Gael in you, with that Fine Gael head on ya.” “That’s very personal now,” was how cllr Bracken parried the remark.

Rowing in to support her party colleague cllr Fitzgerald said: “I don’t think there should be any personal remarks like that. That remark should be withdrawn.” “All I said was that he looked like a Fine Gaeler and that there’s more Fine Gael in him than there is in me,” said cllr Moran to a cacophony or shouting and roaring before Cathaoirleach Walsh brought a bit of order to the chaos and moved on to the next issue on the agenda.