By Dan Walsh, the only member of the Press in person at the Council Chamber Gorey today.
Allegations of skullduggery and sabotage filled the tense atmosphere at “the meeting that never took place” in the Council Chamber in the Civic Offices, Gorey, this afternoon. Adding to the tension were many questions; Was the meeting scheduled to take place? Claims that some members were informed and others weren’t. A best play ever seen in Gorey Little Theatre just down the street could never compete with the dialogue, drama, the intrique and suspense witnessed in the Chamber today.
The ’meeting’ opened promptly at 2.30pm with Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Fionntán Ó Suilleabháin in the chair. It was billed as “the monthly meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District”. It lasted approximately 15 minutes.
Cllr Anthony Donohoe immediately put down a motion to defer the meeting for a week to discuss the vitally important 3-year Capital Plan, which must be decided before the April meeting of Wexford County Council and to discuss future plans and funding for the Courtown Road and footpath and called for the meeting to be held on March 26th at 2.30pm.
Cllr Donohoe added that it would be unfair to discuss these important issues in the absence of a Director of Services (Liz Hore is in Savannah, Georgia, as part of a Wexford delegation celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and includes the Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council Cllr Pip Breen) and stated that Eamonn Hore, Director of Roads Services is invited to attend next week’s meeting.
Cllr Donal Kenny seconded Cllr Donohoe’s proposal and said he only found out about today’s meeting “by accident” and that certain members had asked for it to go ahead. He felt this was unfair as there were people who can’t turn up.
Opposing the motion, Cllr Joe Sullivan referred to “messing going on all week” and admitted that he was aware of today’s meeting being “deferred or called off.” He described matters as “a sabotage meeting” and proposed that the meeting go ahead. “There is plenty of work we can get out of the way today,” he told the members.
Cllr Donohoe interjected again and referred to a serious discussion on the Capital Programme and “how little Gorey is getting out of it.” Cllr Sullivan wondered “am I expected to have confidence in this Council” and proposed a motion “don’t defer” which was seconded by the Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin – a display of Sullivan solidarity!
Cllr Kenny stated that he was happy to meet the Director of Services next week and he wanted answers regards the Ballytegan road. There were exchanges with the District Manager Philip Knight about who knew what regards the meeting going ahead or not. Cllr Diarmuid Devereux told the Leas-Cathaoirleach that he was not party to stopping him from chairing the meeting. He said the Capital Programme was crucial for Gorey for the next decade and the Courtown road is not finished.
Cllr Ó Súilleabháin assumed that the meeting was going ahead. “I found out by accident. Nobody called me,” he said, and referred to “skullduggery” and “a slight of hand.” He referred to things happening outside of the meeting and “a lack of respect.”
Cllrs Willie Kavanagh and Oliver Walsh were on zoom. Cllr Kavanagh didn’t favour the meeting going ahead. He supported the Ballytegan residents and felt the Director of Services should be present. Cllr Oliver Walsh had a busy week, he wasn’t party to the talks but stated that the Capital Budget is too important to ignore. Cllr Donohoe added; “We need to discuss the Capital Programme and the fact that Gorey is getting peanuts.” Cllr Mary Farrell informed the District Manager that she felt the meeting was off and arranged another meeting today and could not attend.
The decision to defer the meeting won the day, 5 votes to 2, FOR; Cllrs Devereux, Donohoe, Walsh, Kavanagh and Kenny. AGAINST; Cllrs Sullivan and Ó Súilleabháin.
The next meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council takes place in the Civic Centre next Tuesday, March 26th at 2.30pm.
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