DONEGAL’S Fianna Fail councillors have come up with a novel way of ending rows at council meetings – broadcasting the proceedings live on the internet.
In a joint statement, the councillors also hit out at Mayor Noel McBride, from Fine Gael.
They said: “It is our view that Donegal County Council can no longer function in its present manner with poor discipline, lack of respect for fellow colleagues during Council meetings, threatening behaviour by members within the chamber being unchallenged, not dealt with by the Mayor almost on a routine basis, lack of respect to members of staff and indeed the total lack of respect to visitors to the Chamber as witnessed at the last meeting with members of the Youth Council.
“The Fianna Fáil party has always been to the forefront of local politics in County Donegal and we are now requesting that the above matter is implemented without delay and proper explanations forthcoming prior to any future meeting of the Council.”
They said it would be “pointless” for political party whips to meet unless everyone accepted that there are issues.
The party has proposed that “all future Council meetings be streamed live on the web so that the entire population of the county can witness first hand the conduct of the meetings.”
They want that to happen immediately
The Fianna Fail group said it was also seeking “clarity” on any decisions reached by the Council and the Mayor after the formal adjournment of the meeting proposed by Cllr Quinn SF and seconded by Cllr Brogan FF at the last meeting.
“We are requesting an explanation as to what occurred after the parties withdrew from the meeting subsequent to the adjournment adopted by the Council by resolution. We are also seeking clarity on this matter from the meetings administrator,” said the FF bloc.
