Limerick council fails to reach consensus on livestreaming and recordings of its meetings

Concerns about livestreaming and recording of Limerick council meetings include the potential cost — and risks due to AI

Mayor of Limerick John Moran: '[T]here now seems to be agreement on the principle. The focus now must be on resolving the practical issues and getting it delivered.' File picture: Don Moloney

Limerick councillors have failed to come to an agreement on the livestreaming and recording of council meetings, which had been suggested by Mayor of Limerick John Moran, after internal disagreements and “hostility” in the council chamber.

A special meeting on the matter was adjourned after councillors failed to reach a consensus, with some voicing concerns about the potential cost of recording the meetings. While sample hours from last year were used to estimate costs, no exact figures were provided.

While Mr Moran’s motion called for recordings to be archived, councillors noted that the motion should be amended to also include recordings of meetings linked to Limerick Twenty Thirty as well as the mayoral implementation committee.

'Caution due to rise of AI'

Príomh Chomhairleoir Catherine Slattery said she was cautious of recordings due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

Following the meeting, Mr Moran said “progress may have taken longer” than many would have liked, but that there now “appears to be” broader support for transparency inside the council chambers.

“Livestreaming and recording council meetings has been a key governance priority in my programme, but credit is also due to those in previous councils who pushed for greater openness and public access, as well as to Government and TDs who have supported this direction of travel,” he said.

“The win here is that there now seems to be agreement on the principle. The focus now must be on resolving the practical issues and getting it delivered.”

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Mr Moran pushed for meetings to be recorded after a meeting in February — which he described as “the lowest point” since his election in June 2024 — when he accused some councillors of being “hostile” towards him as he detailed what happened during a seven-hour meeting.

He previously said holding debates in public is a sign of “maturity”, and offered to use his mayoral fund to cover the costs of recording those meetings. 

Closed-door meetings

There had already been closed-door briefings, including one meeting where JP McManus addressed councillors after the controversy surrounding the International Rugby Experience, marathon meetings that ran for hours before being adjourned, as well as accusations that spilled into local media.

Call for apology in March

At the end of March, a plenary meeting of the council was cut short after Ms Catherine Slattery demanded an apology from Mr Moran, who allegedly made a comment which was not picked up by the microphones.

Fianna Fáil junior minister Niall Collins previously told the Irish Examiner “all meetings” of the council should be available to the public, as “democracy should take place in public ”in full view” in an effort to allow for “proper transparency”.