Party defectors should resign from council

THE recent defections of Cork county councillor Deirdre Forde from Fianna Fáil to Fine Gael and the resignation of Cork city councillor Chris O’Leary from the Green party have raised issues which have not been addressed.

The election of any representative is a result of a massive amount of work carried out by dedicated party members who spend endless hours canvassing, distributing election literature, erecting posters, writing letters and making phone calls. Their reward is in the success of the candidate.

If the member resigns from the party, then he/she is morally and ethically obliged to resign from the local authority seat.

The party would then be entitled to nominate a member to the vacancy and the status quo is maintained within the council chamber. The new member would be entitled to the emoluments payable to the elected members.

The two councillors have not yet resigned. They are hanging on to seats and drawing pay and expenses to which they are not entitled since they no longer represent the parties for which they were elected. Both councillors should resign immediately.

WB O’Flaherty

Wilton Villas

Glasheen

Cork