Gorey Town Council is embarking on rge final year of its existence – it will be abolished in favour of a new municipal district local government system next June – and the Cathaoirleach leading the Council and Gorey town into the history books is Cllr. Michael D’Arcy, (79), who first entered local politics 55 years ago.
Cllr. D’Arcy, outgoing, was re-elected at the annual general meeting of the Town Council last Tuesday night, after a protracted and frustrating session of argument and confusion.
At the outset, Cllr. Colin Webb proposed Cllr. Darcy. “As senior long-time member of the Council in this historical year,” his fellow Fine Gael colleague felt Darcy was the “appropriate candidate,” and Cllr. Darren Keegan was happy to second the proposal.
Cllr. Malcolm Byrne said he hoped to propose Cllr. Robbie Ireton, (Labour), for ‘the chair’, but alleged that he was “being forced not to allow his name go forward.”
Then Cllr. Byrne proposed that Cllr. D’Arcy and Cllr. Lorcan Allen, “with a 100 year’s service between them!” each be Cathaoirlech for six months and share the leadership during the year. Cllr. Bernard Crosbie seconded the proposal.
Then confusion set in. There were questions as to whether such a proposal was legally acceptable, however, Cllr. Crosbie expressed the view that “it would go down very well in the town.”
“They would both work in the best interests of the town,” added Cllr. Byrne.
Cllr. D’Arcy said he was “not in favour.”
“You proposed the same thing to me,” said Cllr. Ireton.
Cllr. Webb stated that Cllr. Ireton had “signed a five year deal with Fine Gael.”
In reply, Cllr. Ireton said: “I signed a three year deal with Fine Gael.”
At this stage, the Cathaoirlech was challenged with asking the members to vote for ‘himself’ or a ‘dual mandate’, the latter being unprecedented in the history of the Council.
Cllr. Angie Dooley interjected. “It is in the best interest of the town that one person will serve.”
The Cathaoirlech asked the Fianna Fail members to withdraw their proposal and there was an exchange of views with references to the legal position of their proposal.
Cllr. Bernard Crosbie pleaded with Cllr. D’Arcy to agree and stick to the original proposal.
When the vote was put to the floor the Fianna Fáil quartet, (Cllrs. Allen Byrne, Crosbie and Quinn), refused to give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. They clearly wanted the joint arrangement with Cllrs D’Arcy and Allen sharing the chair – six months each.
An Cathoairlech stated “It is a serious legal situation here. It is not in the standing orders – we must elect a chairman and a vice-chairman.
Town Clerk, Amanda Byrne, consulted the rule book before the vote went ahead.
The Fine Gael members (Cllrs. Dooley, Darcy, Keegan and Webb), voted for D’Arcy, as did Cllr. Ireton, (Labour), The Fianna Fáil quartet abstained.
Ms. Byrne, as returning officer, announced that Cllr. D’Arcy was elected Cathaoirlech – five votes in favour, four abstained.
Cllr. Ireton, proposed by Cllr. Webb and seconded by Cllr. Keegan, defeated Cllr. Allen, proposed by Cllr. Byrne and seconded by Cllr. Crosbie, by five votes to four, to secure the Leas Cathaoirlech position for the final year of the Town Council.
Full story in THE GOREY ECHO.
