There were heated exchanges at the most recent Plenary meeting of Waterford Council held at the Council Chamber in Dungarvan.
Mayor of Waterford Jason Murphy put forward a proposal to the local authority to amend how meetings are conducted within Waterford City and County Council.
The typical agenda as shown below, has the Monthly Management Report at item four. This is where the majority of questions are raised by councillors, including everyday ongoing issues from roads to public lighting to name a few.
Typical Waterford Council Agenda
However, the Mayor of Waterford Fianna Fáil's Jason Murphy proposed to move the monthly management report to the end of the meeting, instead having one topic each month being discussed in greater detail for a specific period. This month's meeting covered housing in great detail, with an in-depth report given by Director of Services for Housing, Helena Dennehy.
However, not all agreed, as when the motion was put forward for a vote, Sinn Féins Pat Fitzgerald let his thoughts known to the chamber.
" This has happened in the last three or four meetings. Is this going to be an ongoing thing, or are we setting a precedent here? I'm aware that there is a major housing report at this meeting, and I'm very grateful for that, we'll be able to work through that, but at the next meeting, will this happen again with another different type of report?"
Jason Murphy responded, "This has to be adopted at every meeting, that's why I'm putting it out for proposal and seconder. To be honest with you, and transparent, it depends on the agenda items that we have at that meeting. As you're aware, Councillor Fitzgerald, we have a CPG (Corporate Policy Group) meeting in advance of every council meeting, and there are representatives on that CPG, and there's a representative from your party on that CPG. The agenda is spoken about and brought back to the party representatives."
Cllr. Fitzgerald added, "We also have standing orders which say the management report comes in at number four on the agenda.", Mayor Jason Murphy said, "That is certainly true, and you can amend those standing orders by a majority of the council. That's what I'm trying to do now."
Mayor Jason Murphy then said that he can only amend what happens at each meeting as they happen.
" I cannot amend standing orders going forward. I can only amend standing orders as of the meeting in front of me, which I did in the January meeting, and I'm now asking to do it again because we have a very important presentation in regard to housing".
"I understand that, but this is the fourth time that this has happened, so I'm saying, is this going to be a perpetual thing that happens every meeting, because we need a management report as well", said Cllr. Fitzgerald. Mayor Jason Murphy responded by saying."I'm just changing where the management report is taken. I'm asking that the management report will be taken at the end of the meeting."
Sinn Féin Councillor Joeanne Bailey was also vocal about the changes and said it is taking away valuable speaking time from the people.
"Now you're pushing it to the end again, to the back of the meeting, and we're happy to have a housing presentation today, we have questions on housing, but this is now setting a precedent that we will be time-constrained, and it has been said at the workshop as well. We could be losing time in the meeting to ask our questions on management reports."
Other Sinn Féin Councillors including Jim Griffin and John Hearne voiced similar concerns about the changes.
Foul language
Mayor Jason Murphy had to address one councilor at the meeting for the use of foul language.
Cllr. Donal Barry raised his hand several times to get the attention of the Mayor, however, others were allowed to speak with Cllr. Barry voicing his frustration.
"F**k sake.." said Cllr. Barry as Jason Murphy paused the meeting to address the Independent Councillor.
"'I'm not putting up with that kind of language in the Chamber, I heard it and I'm not putting up with it. I have you on a list here, you will get the same amount of time to speak as anyone. I'm looking out across the floor at 32 councillors here, but I'm not putting up with that kind of language.
Cllr. Joe O'Riordan also voiced his frustration against the changes. He also accused the Mayor of favoritism by choosing to look at one side of the room depending on what part of the county the monthly meeting is held.
"You should look this way, Mayor, because you seem to have a problem with this side of the room"
"Is there some sort of draft coming in the door, that's affecting your vision? It's not the first time it's happened. You're doing it every single time, and I guarantee if you look through the minutes of meetings over the last five months, you're constantly looking to the left.
"In Waterford, you look to the right in Dungarvan you look to the left".
The Mayor profusely rejected the claims made by the Independent Councillor.
Mayor Jason Murphy addressed the chamber about the issue one more time, saying Sinn Féin also had the opportunity to attend a working group committee that would have discussed the movement of the Management Report, with correspondents sent out last September. However, no Sinn Féin Councillor attended the meeting.
"If I or the council need to amend Standing Orders, I have to put it to the floor of the council. It's passed by a majority of the council.
"That's called democracy. If there's a majority of the councillors that are in favour of amending Standing Orders, that's the way it goes.
"For some reason today, when we want to discuss one of the most important subjects in Waterford, it seems to be an issue."
The meeting was delayed by 25 minutes due to the above discussions.
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