MAJOR ROW IN FINE GAEL AS DUO CONTEST MAYORAL ELECTION

A major internal rift within Fine Gael surfaced at Monday’s annual meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo when two Fine Gael councillors were proposed for Mayor at City Hall.

In a letter to the Executive, Fine Gael Cllrs Hubert Keaney and Dara Mulvey formally proposed Cllr Keaney - who has just served as Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council for the past year - as the new Mayor.

This was agreed back in 2014 under the d’Hondt power- sharing alliances within Sligo Muncipial District which sees each party share the much- coveted title during the five year term.

Cllr Seamus Kilgannon seconded the motion, which would have ordinarily seen Cllr Keaney automatically elected Mayor.

However Cllr Marie Casserly ( Indp) dramatically proposed Cllr Sinead Maguire, also from Fine Gael.

It immediately provoked a response with all parties and several Independents saying it went against the spirit of the d’Hondt system.

“There was an agreement to honour the d’Hondt system and that was unanimously agreed. I’m not sure if you’ve joined Fine Gael or not perhaps you can clarify that,? asked Cllr Declan Bree.

“We have a moral obligation to adhere to the agreement. That’s what politics is all about,” he added.

Cllr Casserly said she was proposing Cllr Maguire in the interests of “fairness and democracy.”

Cllr Chris MacManus said if there were two Fine Gael nominees put in front of him he was “not going to referee internal Fine Gael squabbles.”

Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes said that they would have to abide by legislation. A recess was called at 1.30pm. Fifteen minutes later, the councillors returned to the chamber.

Cllr Seamus Kilgannon said Fianna Fáil would follow the letter and support Cllr Hubert Keaney, as agreed under the d’Hondt system.

“We have met and thrashed it out. If it’s put to a vote here today we three councillors will be supporting the person named in the letter,” he said.

Cllr Declan Bree said he too would be supporting the d’Hondt system, while he held both members in “the highest esteem.”

“Have we agreement?” asked Cllr Casserly.

“No I’d like it to be put to a vote,” said Cllr Sinead Maguire.

Cllr Keaney was elected Mayor after securing a majority vote.

The new Mayor said it was an honour for him to be elected and thanked the councillors who voted for him.

He said that with the transformation of Local Government in 2014 the office of Mayor was “not what it was in the Borough Council but it still is to the people of Sligo.”

Cllr Keaney said one major aspect of his time as Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council over the past year was the number of Books of Condolences he had to open.

He referred to the recent tragedies in London and the death toll from Grenfell and Portugal’s fires.

“These are huge challenges but the way we can overcome them is to have respect for everyone, not just tolerance,” he told the chamber.

His wife Christina, sister Majella Gallagher, sister- in- law Julia Blake, mother Mary Keaney, children Gregory, Cathy and Hugh and Sharon Mullarkey entered the chamber to witness the handing over of the Mayoral Chain.

Councillor Sinead Maguire was the first to congratulate Cllr Keaney.

“As you’re aware, I had hoped to be Mayor also,” she began.

She went on to say that contrary to what she originally believed in 2014, the position of Mayor was “not allocated on the basis of merit.”

She said politics had gotten a bad name from “petty squabbling” and other people claiming excessive expenses in the past.

She said the initial division of statutory roles such as Mayor, “was inequitable in Fine Gael.”

Cllr Maguire, who was supported by her husband Kieran Quinn in the chamber, said that she had spoken widely with many people in the last year in an effort to resolve this.

“I have learned that many of my colleagues have felt similarly treated,” she said.

She described a “schoolyard culture” of “hierarchical treatment”. She said she had chosen to speak publicly of this culture which was “rife” but she pledged her support to Cllr Hubert Keaney during his term as Mayor.

Cllr Tom MacSharry said he was “heartened” by Cllr Maguire’s “honesty” and said the Government had to “reconsider the Local Government Act.”

All other councillors congratulated Cllr Keaney and wished him well.