Change as two councillors elected leas-cathaoirleach

TWO councillors will share the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach of Wicklow Municipal District during the coming year.

At Monday’s annual general meeting of the body Cllr Irene Winters proposed Cllr Gail Dunne for the role and the nomination was seconded by Cllr Daire Nolan.

Cllr John Snell then proposed Cllr Mary Kavanagh for the role saying that there had been two changes of personnel among the council which was elected in 2014 with the death of Pat Kavanagh who was replaced by her sister, Mary, and the election of Pat Casey to the Dail who was replaced by Cllr Dunne.

He said that Cllr Kavanagh had been on the council longer than Cllr Dunne and hence should get the role adding that he meant no disrespect to Cllr Dunne.

‘But in the interest of fairness I’d like to see Cllr Kavanagh getting the role’, he said.

Cllr Winters said she was happy with either adding that although Cllr Dunne had been co-opted he had served on the town council.

With the wisdom of Solomon Cllr Shay Cullen suggested that both Cllr Kavanagh and Cllr Dunne should share the role. ‘I’ve been thinking long and hard about this. They are both excellent candidates and I think doing six months each would be the fairest way to deal with the issues.’

This was seconded by Cllr Snell who said it was a fair suggestion.

Both Cllrs Kavanagh and Dunne said they had no problem sharing the role and it was agreed that Cllr Dunne would take the reins for the first six months with Cllr Kavanagh taking the second half of the year.