Valerie O'Sullivan's appointment as Cork City Council CEO ratified

Valerie O’Sullivan was formally appointed as the new chief executive of Cork City Council at a special meeting of councillors on Monday night. File Picture: Alison Miles / OSM

The appointment of Valerie O’Sullivan as the new chief executive of Cork City Council has been ratified by city councillors, despite some concerns about her explanation for how her X account was compromised and her handling of Traveller accommodation issues in the county.

City councillors met on Monday night to consider the Public Appointments Service’s recommendation that she be appointed to the €182,280 role. 

The special meeting was held behind closed doors — as is allowed under the Local Government Regulations 2014 in governing the appointment of a chief executive.

Councillors were briefed before the meeting by the city’s law agent, who set out the procedures for the appointment of a chief executive — including how the recommended candidate’s name is considered by the council’s corporate policy group — and then by full council, which had three options on Monday: To appoint the recommended candidate, to not appoint, or to seek additional information from the service.

However, the Irish Examiner has established that councillors opted against seeking further information and then voted in favour of her appointment.

In a statement afterwards, the Green Party criticised the decision as "hire first, ask questions later".

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said he wanted Ms O'Sullivan to meet councillors before being appointed, but this was not supported by a majority of councillors.

He referred to a number of questions that arose during Ms O'Sullivan's tenure as acting chief executive of Cork County Council, including her oversight of Traveller relations and a cybersecurity incident involving her X account.

'Compromised' social media account

It was removed last November after online newsletter Tripe + Drisheen reported how the account had "liked" anti-LGBT+, covid, and climate change conspiracy content.

The county council said at the time that the account had been “compromised”, that the acting chief executive had not engaged with this content, and that corrective action was taken.

Ms O’Sullivan said she does not hold those views and she does not see how the content of her X account was connected to her prospective role as chief executive of Cork City Council.

Speaking after Monday’s council meeting, Mr Moran said the position of chief executive is effectively for 10 years.

“Taking a more careful approach to the appointment, especially where there is controversy, would have given the city more certainty,” he said.

Unfortunately, we're now left asking questions after the appointment is made — rather than asking these up front

"My feeling is that the decision has put us one step closer to a directly-elected lord mayor in Cork.

“I think most people would think it's incredible that someone could be appointed to a position like this with such a reluctance from the elected council to even meet the nominee before appointing."

Independent Ireland councillor Ken O'Flynn described Ms O'Sullivan as "a fantastic public servant", and said he looks forward to working with her.

Ms O’Sullivan said she was “honoured and privileged" to be formally appointed.

“I have dedicated my career to public service and believe so much in the power of local Government to make a positive difference in people’s lives," she said.

"It is the honour and privilege of my career to continue this in the city of my birth, where I will continue to work with a great team and all the elected members to deliver for Cork City, its residents, communities, and the business sector."

Ms O'Sullivan held a number of senior roles in the city council, including in recreation, amenity and culture, in corporate affairs, and in housing, until she moved to Cork County Council in 2019 and was appointed divisional manager for the South Cork division, before being appointed temporary chief executive last October.

As chief executive of the city council, she will have overall responsibility for an annual budget of €292m.