'Monumental failure': Lord Mayor criticises Dublin City Council executive over handling of plan to rename Herzog Park

Plans to remove the name from the park were due to be voted on by councillors on Monday. Picture: Stephen Collins

A proposal to dename Herzog Park in Rathgar is to be dropped by Dublin City Council, as Lord Mayor Ray McAdam accuses the executive of a “monumental failure” over the plan.

Plans to remove the name from the park were due to be voted on by councillors on Monday.

It comes amid significant criticism of the proposed renaming of the park came from the Government, alongside politicians in the US and Israel.

In a statement, Dublin City Council chief executive Richard Shakespeare said legislation on changing placenames is yet to be fully implemented, while saying the proposal is “missing information for a valid resolution to be adopted”.

He added he would propose withdrawing the proposal from the agenda, for it to be returned to the Commemorations and Naming Committee for additional consideration.

“On behalf of the Executive of the City Council, I wish to apologise for this administrative oversight. A detailed review of the administrative missteps will now be undertaken and a report furnished to the Lord Mayor and Councillors,” Mr Shakespeare said.

Mr McAdam said he was informed by Mr Shakespeare on Sunday morning that a legal opinion had been provided to council staff that the denaming could not go ahead, but this was not provided to councillors.

He said, had the information been provided to councillors, the renaming of the park would not be included in the agenda.

“The simple reality is there has been a monumental failure on behalf of the executive,” Mr McAdam said.

“One, to know the legislation underpinning the renaming of public spaces and two, making sure sufficient information has been made available to the elected members.” Mr McAdam said he had never seen anything like this in his 17 years as a councillor.

“I have never seen anything like it and I am disappointed I feel let down and I am just appalled at this.” However, the proposed removal has been questioned by Independent councillor, Cieran Perry, who described it as “political interference”.

Mr McAdam denied there was any political interference, citing the failure of the council’s executive.

Group leaders on Dublin City Council will meet tomorrow at 1pm to discuss the agenda change.

Mr McAdam said he has asked Mr Shakespeare to account for the issue at the meeting.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the proposal as being a “denial of our history”, while also warning it would be seen as antisemitic “without any doubt”.

The park, named after Chaim Herzog, who was born in Belfast and was a former president of Israel from 1983 to 1993. He is the father of the current Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.

The proposal had been condemned by the Israeli president’s office, which said the removal of the park’s name would be a “shameful and disgraceful move”.