References to 2020 breaking of pact at Monday’s election

THERE were references to people breaking pacts and not keeping their word last year as Fianna Fail councillor Paul Taylor was elected unopposed as cathaoirleaach of Sligo County Council on Monday.

Cllr Taylor succeeds Cllr Dara Mulvey (Fine Gael) in the post. When this present council was elected in 2019 Fianna Fáil decided that rather than continue with their previous pact with Fine Gael they would enter into a new agreement on the rotation of the posts of cathaoirleach and leas cathaoirleach with Sinn Fein, Gino O’Boyle (People Before Profit) and Independents, including Cllr Declan Bree. However, because the left leaning councillors failed to vote to pass the council’s annual budget, some Fianna Fáil councillors and others (including Cllr Taylor) felt this was a breach of the pact. They decided last year not to vote for Cllr Bree as cathaoirleach as would have been required under the pact and instead helped to ensure the election of Fine Gael’s Dara Mulvey.

At Monday’s meeting, Cllr Taylor was proposed and seconded by Fianna Fail colleagues Cllrs Martin Baker and Donal Gilroy.

Cllr Bree referred to the pact that had been agreed after the last local elections and said that despite the fact that Cllrs Taylor, Baker and Queenan “broke their word” at the last AGM he said he intended to keep his word and support Cllr Taylor as had been agreed in the pact.

“As a child we were taught by our parents that your word is your bond,” he said

Sinn Féin’s Cllr Thomas Healy said that his party would also be supporting Cllr Taylor.

“We entered into a pact and our word is our bond,” he said.

Cllr Gino O’Boyle said he would also be supporting Cllr Taylor. He said that Cllr Taylor had given him great help when he came on the