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Cllr. Donie Daly calls for reverse of decision
2 comments | 
Youghal Town Council has decided to continue to hold its monthly statutuory meeting within office hours only. The decision to hold the monthly meetings within office hours only was as a result of the “work to rule”, which was implemented by the Trade Union movement as a protest against wages cuts, whereupon officials would only deal with Councillors within office hours only. That was fair enough. The Croke Park Deal has now been implemented and it was fully expected that Youghal Town Council would revert to its original meeting time of 7.30pm.
Youghal Town Councillor Donie Daly
In essence, Town Council meetings are now only being held at 10am on the Tuesday following the 2nd Monday of every month. I don’t understand this decision. I was assured by the Council Management and all Councillors individually that once the work to rule ended the meeting would revert back to its original time.
I work in the private sector. Because of the economic downturn, I have had to seek work in Limerick. Every working man has to feed his family and I do not have the luxury of being able to take a day off every month to attend a meeting of the Town Council. I would lose my job.
I was elected to serve the people of Youghal and regardless of what certain Councillors think of me, the signal being sent out to the people of Youghal is that if you work in the private sector (and you work normal hours) and you want to be a councillor, then don’t bother putting your name on a ballot paper in Youghal because Youghal Town Council will only meet during the day.
Furthermore, if the public wants to bring a deputation before the Council at its statutory monthly meeting and if, say one person in that deputation can’t get time off work, then their rights as citizens of the town are affected.
Common sense must prevail here. This is not just about me. It is about certain people, who are members of the Town Council, taking actions that lack foresight and will become problematic for ordinary working people.
The Labour Party, before my election in June 2009, was absent from the Youghal Town Council since 1986. I am fortright in my approach to issues. This sometimes puts me on the wrong side of my colleagues. But isn’t that what characterises Youghal people, the ability to speak one’s mind, no matter what the consequences.
The solution to this problem is easy. Bring the meetings back to a time that suits everyone. This is how it has worked for decades. Don’t freeze me out of the Council because I have to travel to work to feed my family. I can’t risk my job in these troubled times. I want to serve the people of Youghal and allow them l to judge me on my performance. I do not wish to be tried by my fellow councillors.
I ask that the members of Youghal Town Council reverse their decision so that every citizen will have access to monthly evening meetings and not just those who can take time off during a working day.
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Cllr. Donie Daly
Ballyglavin
Youghal,
Co. Cork
Tel:- (086) 8103886
Email:- doniedalyyoughal@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/donie.daly
http://twitter.com/DonieDaly
2 comments |
Today, Youghal Town Council have voted 5 – 3 to hold monthly meetings on Tuesday mornings at 10am permanently.
I would like to say thank you the 3 Councillors that opposed this motion.
Unfortunately, todays developments neither surprises or angers me as it had been well signposted,over the last couple of weeks. Its a sad day for democracy in the town!
I for one will be contacting the relevant councillors in writing (once I find out who they are, through the published minutes-thanks to YoughalOnline and the Youghal News for doing what the council themselves, through their website, seem to have given up on, by the way) to urge them to revise this decision, or at best, explain it *if* they can, preferably in the public domain.
To change a long held policy of holding meetings outside office hours (presumably to facilitate those who cannot be easily released from gainful employment without either taking personal leave, or jeopardising what may well be tenuous temporary contracted work that could be withdrawn at any time) in spite of the resolution of any industrial relations issues in place when the initial decision was taken is, well, a bit strange. It’s contrary too to the spirit of cross party cooperation that should be part and parcel of what is a local assembly, a long way away from Kildare St.
Not every (present or future) councillor works within an asses roar of the Mall, nor is every councillor in the happy position of skipping reruns of Judge Judy (is she on that early?) in order to attend an AM meeting.
Some present councillors in fact, are self employed, busily so, and one would imagine that an evening meeting would also suit them?
I don’t know the breakdown of the five and the three-but I am disappointed some latitude could not be shown here-if it went to a vote, it was after all ultimately the decision of the elected representatives and not an issue forced upon them by staff considerations.
Lastly, I’d say to Donie that his “forthright” approach and enthusiasm is missed by many observers…