Cork councillor fails to force rule change

A POPULAR Independent local politician fighting cancer failed last night in an attempt to change rules which he says “discriminate” against Independents.

Cork’s city councillors voted against Cllr Dave McCarthy’s motion seeking changes to the standing orders which dictate how an Independent councillor’slocal authority seat is passed on in the event of aresignation or death.

Under the current rules governing Cork City Council, political parties nominate a replacement if one of their members steps down or dies.

However, when an Independent resigns or dies, Standing Order 30 dictates that the seat goes to the highest polling un-elected candidate from the last election.

Sinn Féin’s Cllr Fiona Kerins secured a council seat under this process in 2007 following the death of Independent Cllr Con O’Connell.

Mr McCarthy opposed that move at the time and maintained that an Independent seat should remain Independent.

Mr McCarthy is undergoing chemotherapy treatment and his motion was debated at City Hall last night in his absence.

Fine Gael’s Cllr Jim Corr said the council’s standing orders were subjected to in-depth reviews – in the 1970s and 2002 – and no-one suggested on those occasions that Standing Order 30 is discriminatory.

“It is designed to reflect the democratic view of the electorate,” he said.

“We are 15 months into the life of this council and I feel it would be undemocratic to change the goalposts now from the position they were in at the election.”

But Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Tim Brosnan said the current system is undemocratic.

“We are effectively saying to the people, you elected an independent, but we’re going to select the replacement,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s Cllr Jonathan O’Brien said his party supported the change.

“The most appropriate time to deal with this is when there is no vacancy – and there is currently no vacancy.

“This is the exact time to take a look at this procedure,” he said.

However, the motion was defeated by a margin of 18 votes to 11.

A member of Fianna Fáil until 2007, Mr McCarthy has served the people of Cork North West Ward for 25 years – topping the poll twice and serving as Lord Mayor.

He was recently accorded a civic reception to honour his service to the city.