WORK TO RULE MAY FORCE MEETING CHANGE
As the affects of the public service work to rule begin to bite in the delivery of local services, it has emerged that the May meeting of Fermoy Town Council may have to take place during normal working hours. This will obviously create difficulties for some members of the council due to work-related and other commitments.
“It would break my back,” stated the Sinn Fein councillor, Seamus Coleman at last Monday night’s meeting. “It would cause a massive problem for all the councillors as it would be extremely difficult to address the issues for the people of Fermoy.”
Cllr Olive Corcoran of Fianna Fail was curious if any of the clerical officers were involved in the work-to-rule. Town manager Tom Stritch informed Cllr Corcoran that if they were part of a union, they would be involved in a go-slow.
The Fianna Fail councillor then asked town clerk Ray Ovens, if he was involved in a union. Ovens cautiously responded, “That’s a very personal question.” To which Cllr Corcoran replied, “It’s a simple question and I’m perfectly entitled to ask it, are you in a union or not?”
The public sector work-to-rule and the opening of head shops were the main issues raised at the monthly meeting of Fermoy Town Council this week.
All councillors present expressed their concern with the go-slow in the public service. Fianna Fail councillor, Colette Dolan Moore, explained how difficult her duties are with the current work-to-rule.
“My hands are tied,” said Cllr Moore. “It’s very hard to perform my duties as a councillor when this is taking place. When I tell our constituents to call the council or any public sector service, there is no answer.”
A PERSONAL QUESTION
Cllr Olive Corcoran of Fianna Fail was curious if any of the clerical officers were involved in the work-to-rule. Town manager Tom Stritch informed Cllr Corcoran that if they were part of a union, they would be involved in a go-slow. The Fianna Fail councillor then asked town clerk Ray Ovens, if he was involved in a union.
Ovens cautiously responded, “That’s a very personal question.” To which Cllr Corcoran replied, “It’s a simple question and I’m perfectly entitled to ask it, are you in a union or not?”
MEETING CHANGE
If the work-to-rule issue is to continue, it is likely to result in next month’s meeting being held during normal working hours.
This would be a significant problem for many of the councillors, including Cllr Seamus Coleman.
“It would break my back,” stated the Sinn Fein Councillor. “It would cause a massive problem for all the councillors as it would be extremely difficult to address the issues for the people of Fermoy.”
HEAD SHOPS
The possibility of head shops opening in Fermoy was an issue that was passionately debated by all councillors.
“We need to do all we can to stop head shops opening in Fermoy,” said mayor, Noel McCarthy. “The government needs to make tougher regulation for the opening of head shops, because at the moment it is so easy to open one, you don’t need any license".
Cllr Coleman shared the mayor’s strong views.
“We need to get the word out there that Fermoy is against head shops. I would suggest that we all write to letting agents and auctioneers, to make our views clear,” said Cllr Coleman.
MOTIONS IGNORED
Cllr Corcoran also expressed her concern, that certain passed motions were being left ignored, an issue she raised in last week’s Avondhu.
“I’ve looked at back at previous motions and they have not been addressed. This is a significant problem,” she said.
Councillors Coleman suggested that a review meeting should take place to analyse previous motions.
“A review would make the whole council far more efficient, as we’re often just racing through motions far too quickly,” said Cllr Coleman.
Published:
Friday 23rd April 1:41pm
