Debate on Mayo council chamber costs gets heated

POLITICS is about compromise and listening to other people's views.

Wise words from seasoned politician Gerry Coyle in a somewhat heated debate over spending on trips abroad and a possible €700,000 upgrade of the Mayo County Council chamber.

Newly elected Paul Lawless, an Aontú councillor, sparked the debate during a discussion on setting the Local Property Tax for 2025 when he highlighted the 'squandering' of tax payers' money at national level on the Dáil bike shed and projects such as the Dublin metro.

Closer to home, he said there was a proposal at a workshop to spend €700,000 on a council chamber refurbishment, which he described as 'a vanity project'. The councillor said he nearly fell off his chair at such spending.

And he went on to highlight how the agenda before them featured four trips abroad.

Councillor Lawless called for a review of council spending in an effort to curb waste.

However, he was challenged by Councillor Damien Ryan who stated no decision had been made about chamber works and he accused his colleague of 'grandstanding' and 'electioneering'.

No proposal has come before the council chamber and no decision has been made in relation to a refurbishment project.

There are issues with accessibility and the acoustics in the chamber, Councillor Jarlath Munnelly pointed out. But again, there has been no decision made on it, he reiterated.

Councillor Michael Burke said they had seen people on both sides of the house who were ambitious and had gone on to become TDs, ministers and even Taoiseach. “But they all stuck to the facts and figures and the truth.” And he asked that people would not be misled.

Councillor Donna Sheridan said she raised issue with the refurbishment costs at the workshop, and Councillor Lawless had agreed with her. To say no one raised it was factually incorrect.

“If we cannot discuss options in a workshop where are we at,” she asked.

Councillor Lawless told his colleagues that he hadn't misled anyone and he refuted that robustly.

The facts were that there had been a discussion about the council chamber.

The idea of electioneering was absolutely wrong, he added. He never got involved in politics for personal gain and was not interested in career politics.

“If I feel I am doing the right thing I will stand up and say it,” he said.

Cathaoirleach Councillor John O'Hara said at the workshop, everyone put in their thoughts, but they did not make any decision.

On foreign trips being a waste of money, Councillor O'Hara said that next year he would put the Aontú member's name forward. He himself had a full day at a meet and greet at a stand in Milwaukee and it was 'no holiday, no junket'.

As the debate continued, Councillor Gerry Coyle reminded the chamber that everyone deserves respect. They were 'elected by some to represent all' and they had to represent different views.

“People have different views and rightly so. Politics is about compromise and listening to people's views.”

On travel, Councillor Coyle pointed out how the greenway project had grown from a group of councillors visiting the Lake District.

Wrapping up the debate, Councillor Peter Flynn said there is waste in the council. They should identify it, talk about it, and make a difference and do things better.

“We need to work together.”

TRIPS ABROAD

When the approval of trips - one to a US twin town and three European - came up separately later on the agenda, Councillor Lawless asked for more insight and costs on future trips.

He wasn't suggesting they all be suspended and agreed some would be of massive benefit, but it didn't sit well with him approving them without costs and knowing what they were for.

He also noted the 'energy or heat' directed at him for raising questions was 'unfortunate'.

Councillor Ryan said a budget is agreed every year, and he had never seen a scenario before where four trips were on the agenda. There was no difficulty in giving reports on them, and he had never found one that wasn't beneficial.

Nothing was being done wrong, emphasised Councillor Mulroy, with expenses published every year.

Councillor Flynn said Lawless had raised a valid point and they all want to know where money is going.

He had just returned from Slovenia and the only cost was a Ryanair flight. They all learned something every time they go away.