Coughlan to consider laws for filling VEC role

MINISTER for Education Mary Coughlan has confirmed she will consider introducing legislation to block political appointees taking up community posts on VECs.

The minister made her comments following a controversial vote on Co Cork VEC a few weeks ago, which resulted in a political appointee taking a post traditionally reserved for the Church of Ireland.

Tom Sheahan, a former Mayor of County Cork who lost his county council seat at the last local elections, was appointed to the VEC after the Fine Gael party backed him in a vote against the Church of Ireland representative Canon George Salter.

The move caused outrage, prompting Fianna Fáil to accuse Fine Gael of “political cronyism” and destroying traditional representation on the VEC board by the minority religion.

It also led Church of Ireland Bishop Paul Colton to call on Ms Coughlan to introduce legislation to protect church representation on VECs.

Ms Coughlan told Kerry South Fianna Fáil TD John O’Donoghue of her views when her colleague tabled a Dáil question.

The minister confirmed she was considering such a move as part of the new legislation for VECs.

“I intend to seek the approval of the Government for a re-structuring of the VEC system, and I anticipate that such re-structuring will require legislative change. Issues of the type raised by the Bishop can be considered in the context of such legislation,” she said.

Deputy O’Donoghue said he was delighted action was being considered at ministerial level.

“In my mind community places on VECs or other committees should be left to members of the community and members of minority groups.

“Most people would be appalled to see a minority religion treated in this way in modern Ireland and I think we need to take a pluralist view and end this mistreatment,” the Kerry TD said.

He intends to continue to press Minister Coughlan to ensure any legislation prevents any repeat of the controversial Cork vote.

“My hope is that the new regulations will help guarantee equality for these trustee or community positions and prevent any further politicking from occurring in these important positions,” Deputy O’Donoghue said.

Tom Sheahan later decided that he wouldn’t take up the VEC seat, saying he didn’t want to cause upset or disharmony on the board.

This led Fine Gael into a climbdown and last week they put forward Canon Salter as a replacement.

He was elected unopposed to retain the seat he has held for many years on the board of the county VEC.