Waterford City and County Council AGM June 2020 - picture Noel Browne
Update 2:00pm
The Chief Executive of Waterford Council says he has no power to conduct an investigation into an alleged breach of Covid-19 regulations.
It's after Sinn Féin Councillors in Waterford wrote to CEO Michael Walsh this morning requesting that he establish the facts regarding what role, if any, the Mayor had in a misinterpretation of Covid regulations that has garnered significant local and national media attention.
Mr Walsh responded to Sinn Fein and expressed his 'serious disappointment' that the party issued a press release referencing an investigation by him without receiving his opinion.
Earlier:
There are calls for the Mayor of Waterford to step aside until the controversy relating to an alleged breach of Covid-19 regulations has been resolved.
Sinn Féin Councillors have written to the Chief Executive Michael Walsh requesting that he establish the facts regarding what role, if any, the Mayor had in a misinterpretation of Covid regulations.
Dungarvan GAA fielded a player in their county intermediate final who was awaiting the results of a Covid test, that player went on to test positive.
The Mayor of Waterford, Fine Gael Councillor Damien Geoghegan, has clarified that he was the designated Covid Supervisor for the team.
The Sinn Fein Councillors say they have been inundated with calls and messages from constituents seeking answers and accountability.
"The refusal of the Mayor to address the controversy or to account for his role, if any, in the alleged breach is undermining the reputation of the entire Council.
"We have formally requested a Council investigation into the matter to establish whether or not the Mayor breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors in relation to the controversy. In the interim, we are calling for Councillor Geoghegan to step aside from his role as Mayor pending the result of that investigation."
Letter to the Chief Executive
Michael, a chara
On behalf of the Sinn Féin councillors on WC & CC, I formally request you launch an investigation to establish the facts regarding the misinterpretation of Covid -19 regulations that may have involved the Mayor of Waterford City and County.
We in Sinn Féin are seriously concerned that the COVID - 19 regulations and the national code of conduct for councillors may have been breached. We are concerned about the inpact of this on the credibility and authority of the office of Mayor and on the Council as a whole.
We request that this investigation is carried out as soon as possible and that the findings of the investigation would be report to the full Council at the earliest opportunity.
le meas,
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald
