*Cllr Paul Murphy (FG). Photograph: John O’Neill
AFTER CRITICISING the procedures in place at this month’s sitting of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) has admitted he would be interested in becoming Chair of Standing Orders.
At the February sitting of the local authority, Cllr Murphy was critical of the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) for allowing a debate on the finances of Ennis 2040 DAC.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) had tabled a notice of motion before the County Council meeting looking to discuss the €10m loan drawn down to create Ennis 2040 DAC.
However Cllr Murphy claimed a discussion of the matter was “in breach of standing orders” as he argued what O’Callaghan had submitted was a question not a motion. “The meeting is illegal by discussing this,” he added and said, “We badly need to look at our standing orders and implement them, otherwise this is turning into a circus”.
Further criticism of standing orders was later voiced by Cllr Shane Talty (FF) who pointed out the Mayor’s difficulty to conclude the meeting within the allocated time. “Look at the time, have standing orders been enforced at all,” he quipped. Ironically, the postmaster found it difficult to keep a handle on the time during this week’s meeting of the Tourism Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).
Chair of Standing Orders in Clare County Council is an unpaid position which was held by Gerry Flynn (IND) for two decades up until his exit from local politics in June. The post has remained vacant for the past eight months.
When questioned by The Clare Echo if he would be interested in the role following his criticism of procedures, Cllr Murphy admitted he hadn’t considered it but said “I would be willing to go in as Chair of the Standing Orders. I think it is vital we have proper procedure and that meetings run fluidly.
“In fairness to Gerry Flynn, he was very committed to it, I was on the committee with him and we met regularly, if there was a need to address anything Gerry was very capable and I admire him for that, the same for the late PJ Kelly and Christy Curtin who were well able to call things to order, they liked things done right which is critical”. He added, “the other day I felt things had gone loose so it was no harm to raise it”.
