Cathaoirleach's 'rotating chain' plan is shot down
Pictured at the annual general meting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District were, front row, from left: Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Chris Maxwell, Cathaoirleach Cllr Brendan Mulroy and Mayo Co Council Director of Services Joanne Grehan. Back row: Jim Power, Mayo Co Council; Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District; Michael O'Boyle, Mayo Co Council; Cllr Gerry Coyle, Cllr John O'Malley, Cllr Peter Flynn, Cllr Sean Carey and Cllr Paul McNamara. Picture: Conor McKeown
Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy has been elected as Cathaoirleach of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, succeeding Fine Gael's Peter Flynn.
The Westport man was the unanimous choice of councillors when they held their annual general meeting in Westport on Monday, June 29th, having been proposed and seconded by party colleagues Paul McNamara and Seán Carey.
The new Cathaoirleach began his term of office with a novel, if somewhat contentious, proposal. Referring to the vast geographical size of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Mulroy suggested that councillors from the Belmullet Local Electoral Area (LEA) should be allowed to wear the chain of office at official events in their area, rather than having councillors from Westport "take the credit". The three Belmullet LEA councillors are Gerry Coyle, Paul McNamara (Achill Island) and Seán Carey.
"While I have no problem going down to Belmullet with the chain, I think it would be bad form to go there and have these other councillors standing back. I propose this as a form of partnership going forward, that the chain should rotate around.”
Cllr Flynn enthusiastically supported the proposal, saying it was “a great idea”, with Cllr O’Malley saying it “might be a good suggestion, in the sense it might ease the chain withdrawal effects from Cllr Carey” (who has just finished his term as Cathaoirleach of Mayo Co Council).
However, Cllr McNamara vehemently opposed the proposal, stating: “When someone is Cathaoirleach it is like they have been made captain of the team, and the boss is the boss in my opinion. You can’t have several bosses. When someone is given a position, they take on the responsibility, that is the job.”
Cllr Mulroy said he had noted Cllr McNamara's comments and would make no further mention of the idea.
Looking to the year ahead, Cllr Mulroy highlighted housing as a priority and welcomed the variation on the Mayo Development Plan that has opened up more land for residential developments as well as the relaxation of rules around rural housing. He was heavily critical of Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) in relation to the ongoing delay in delivering the Newport Waste Water Treatment Plant, which was promised in 2019 and has now been pushed out to 2031.
“I no longer believe a word that comes out of Irish Water’s mouth and while it is great to see the campaign for the plant up and running in Newport and among the business community and every politician coming on board, it needs delivery and 2031 is way too long to wait, so I ask all elected representatives in Mayo and particularly in Dáil Éireann to make sure Irish Water deliver on this project as soon as possible.”
The new Leas-Cathaoirleach is Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell, from Louisburgh, who was proposed by Cllr John O’Malley (Independent) and seconded by Cllr Flynn.
Members extended congratulations to Cllr Mulroy on his new appointment, with Cllr O’Malley telling him he was “an easy man to work with”, while Cllr Maxwell thanked him for being a good friend and great councillor, adding: “I will do my best as Leas Cathaoirleach, which is an honour for me, to help you out during the year.”
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
