Staples: ‘I’ll chair meeting whatever way I want’

CATHAOIRLEACH ACCUSED OF PICKING AND CHOOSING HIS BATTLES AT MEETING

IN what was an uncharacteristically tetchy meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District, the current condition of the Harbour View Hotel and who was responsible for its deterioration was up for debate.

Councillor Ger Carthy began the discussion by enquiring whether the hotel was on the derelict sites register and noting that a potential solution for saving it had been mooted several years ago.

‘There was a solution seven years ago and I formed part of that solution which was refused by the then Head of Finance. Since then that building has become derelict, we didn’t accept a payment plan from the then receiver and now, some seven years later, because of that decision the windows are falling out of the place, the pipes are falling out, it’s a mess,’ said Cllr Carthy.

‘And it’s at the very entrance to Rosslare Europort too, as people enter our jurisdiction. It’s disappointing it couldn’t be facilitated at the time, we need to learn from the mistakes of previous years.’

Confirming that the Harbour View Hotel was not on the derelict sites register, Senior Executive Officer Tom Banville said an ‘inspection had done been a couple of months ago, it may have deteriorated since then, we can certainly have another look at it.’

But Cllr Carthy wasn’t finished yet, accusing Wexford County Council of being a ‘light touch in relation to derelict sites’.

‘This didn’t happen overnight, it’s going on for years. We need a zero tolerance approach in our semi-urban areas, look at the mess at the entrance to the Europort, it’s not on the register so now we can’t apply the 7 per cent levy on it,’ he said.

‘The people of Rosslare Harbour have to look at that building, day in, day out, the man beside it is investing in his business and that eyesore is beside him. I was assured it was on the derelict sites register so I think we need to expedite that.’

Meanwhile, Head of Finance Annette O’Neill was unsure whether she had heard Cllr Carthy correctly or whether the poor sound quality of the video call had deceived her ears.

‘Perhaps I misheard Cllr Carthy because of the feedback, but if he did say the Head of Finance was responsible for the Harbour View Hotel failing, I think he needs to withdraw that remark,’ she said.

‘I didn’t say that,’ replied Cllr Carthy. ‘What I said was Chan Holdings had to reopen that premises, but that repayment proposal for rates at the time was refused by WCC and yes, Annette, you were the Head of Finance at the time and since then that building has went in to derelict status.

‘That’s a direct result of decisions made by the council, I’m not ridiculing anyone, I’m stating facts.’

Reluctant to be drawn on the matter, Ms O’Neill attempted to conclude the discussion, saying, ‘That’s not quite the whole story, that’s a shortened version of what happened. But I’m not getting into it today.’

However, Cathaoirleach for the District, Cllr Frank Staples leapt to Ms O’Neill’s defence and inadvertently set in motion another spat.

‘I’ve always found Annette to be one of the best officials in WCC, she’s very efficient, I’d be a little bit peeved at the fact she’d be accused of being inefficient,’ he said. ‘I would support her in every way possible and I think we should try and support all our officials.’

Noting that Cllr Staples had remained silent during an earlier discussion regarding the council’s handling of a homelessness issue, Cllr Lisa McDonald had this to say.

‘When you consider the issue that I raised, which was in relation to memos to councillors, you yourself chairman didn’t even bother to respond to that, which is a very serious issue.

‘I’ve made my point and I don’t really care what you have to say but I will say if you’re going to chair the meeting, chair it in total, don’t be chairing parts of it,’ she said.

To which Cllr Staples replied, ‘I’ll chair the meeting whatever way I want.’

‘You can chair it whatever you want but don’t expect me not to pull you on it if you’re going to chair half of it and not the other half,’ said Cllr McDonald in response. ‘Those two memos we got Friday night were very serious in relation to our role as councillors, I raised that issue and you didn’t even bother responding to that, but yet you’re defending the officials you want to defend and come in on others you want to come in on.

‘Chair whatever you want but don’t expect me to sit back and say nothing.’

Unruffled, Cllr Staples promptly ended the debate, saying, ‘I’m still not sure what you’re on about, but anyway.’