A county councillor wants to have council meetings streamed live so that people on Donegal’s islands and elsewhere can see what’s happening.
Councillor Micheal Mac Giolla Easbuig said hundreds of islanders living on the likes of Arranmore and Tory islands have no say over their futures at council level.
He said many islanders would like to represent themselves at the meetings or to find out what is happening.
But he said traveling by boat in rough seas and bad weather means they often have no option.
He said the island people had the same rights about their futures as people living on the mainland and must be informed of what is happening.
He said “I’m calling for our council meetings to be streamed live online so the public can see and hear what is been put forward and what is being said by councillors and council officials.
“Island people and people who would have to travel far, could then have access these meetings. I am also proposing these meetings be archived for all to view.”
He added that what happened at council level was not always relayed to the public.
He also added that he was annoyed that the three main parties had not backed his motion to have the meetings streamed live.
“Sometimes councillors in the past have taken a stand on certain issues but voted against the issue. What we need is more transparency and openness at these meetings,” he said.
The cost of the project would be in the region of €50,000.
However, councillor Mac Giolla Easbuig said that if churches could afford to stream masses live then the council can afford to keep the public informed of what is happening at their meetings.
“Technology has advanced so much in recent years and I cannot see any financial reason why this cannot be explored now,” he added.
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