Cork’s Simon Coveney refuses to comment on council merger plans

Cork’s most senior government minister has refused to say whether he favours a merger of the region’s two local authorities or a city boundary extension.

Simon Coveney, the agriculture, defence, food, and marine minister, said he would prefer to let the Cork Local Government Review (CLGR) group complete its work without being influenced by the publicly expressed views of politicians.

“Some politicians have lobbied publicly on this review,” he said.