*Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Ann Norton (IND) and Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF).
AN EX Mayor of Clare branded a sitting councillor ‘a misogynist’ while a retiring elected representative of Clare County Council was unsuccessful in her attempts to secure an apology from a colleague.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District once again contained spats and heated debates but the latest bout saw a furious Cllr Ann Norton (IND) shout down colleagues in her bid to get an apology from Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) who during the course of the debate was labelled as ‘a misogynist’ by Cllr Mary Howard (FG).
Ironically a code of conduct for councillors was issued to the Ennis MD representatives prior to Tuesday’s meeting and the latest shouting episode.
For the second meeting in a row, Cllr O’Callaghan’s probing of the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) ruffled feathers with the Kildysart native’s comments on the “conflict of interest” with allocations to different groups and organisations kicking off the row. The previous meeting had asked for councillors to leave the Chamber for a period of time if they had a perceived conflict of interest on an allocation.
This year it was decided following a vote by the majority of Ennis MD representatives that councillors can use their GMA individually rather than from a collective pot. The Council’s adopted budget for this year includes a GMA of €1.37m for the entire county, an increase of €364k on the 2023 provision. This fund is used by elected members of the Council to benefit community and voluntary organisations. The GMA was introduced following the reform of the Local Government Act in 2014.
Speaking on Tuesday, Cllr O’Callaghan stressed the importance of abiding by the code of conduct. “I do have a concern on the basis that when you have the allocation of GMA monies and there is a conflict of interest, it is very important to reiterate that a councillor must withdraw from a meeting after the disclosure and not take part in the discussion”.
He claimed this procedure was not followed at the April meeting. “There was conflict of interests highlighted at the last meeting but Cllr Norton and Cllr Howard did not leave the meeting”.
Responding to these remarks, Cllr Norton stated, “I’m finding it hilarious over the fact that Cllr O’Callaghan stated I did not leave the meeting, I got cut off at the meeting so I wasn’t present for any of the section of the meeting, I genuinely don’t know where he is coming from, I’d like him to take it back because it is inaccurate and disgraceful. I don’t know what his issue is, I don’t know why he keeps drawing my name into this, I’d like it to be withdrawn, it is extremely inappropriate and damning to use my name on something I wasn’t present for, anything there has been a conflict of interest for over the last ten years, I’ve removed myself”. She asked that his comments be taken back and that an apology be issued by Cllr O’Callaghan.
Councillors are “asked to join a lot of committees, they are always run by volunteers, they don’t run on fresh air and they need funding,” Cllr Howard commented. Of the groups she was giving a portion of her GMA to for this month, she said she is on the Board of Management for the Holy Family Senior School, she lives within a mile of Inch NS, she has gone to hurling matches in Kilnamona when suggesting accusations of a conflict of interest could be argued for in each instance. “I’d rather give money to help kids go to a Cúl Camp rather giving a cheque for €10,000 to buy votes,” she remarked of her contribution to Ennis Educate Together students attending a camp in Éire Óg and O’Callaghan’s decision to give money to sporting organisations. “I’ve been over at the Men’s Shed does that make it a conflict of interest,” she added. “I don’t make a penny from any of them. It is really distasteful, it is creating drama when there is no drama, I give a huge amount of time to these organisations as does everyone in this Chamber. I believe an apology is in order”.
Director of Service, Carmel Kirby told councillors, “this item was dealt with at the last meeting, I’m not sure what addition Cllr O’Callaghan wishes to add”.
Offering his response, Cllr O’Callaghan stated, “It is very important that we realise this is not insinuating in any shape or format, I’m saying it is a matter of fact and I go by what is in front of me”. He continued, “If there was a line cut off then there was a line cut off with technology”.
Now shouting while attending remotely, Cllr Norton roared, “I want an apology”. She said,
“This issue was addressed at the last meeting, it was brought up at the last meeting, he should not be allowed to insult other Cllrs. You should not be allowed discuss this in this meeting. It is up to the Mayor to stop you from talking”.
“It is crucially important,” said O’Callaghan to which Norton again shouted, “I want an apology”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) told his colleagues, “this is out of order, Ann can you settle down please”.
All councillors were circulated with the code of conduct, O’Callaghan reminded the meeting.
“Everything needs to be done according to the Act, I see nothing wrong with asking the questions”.
Pressure was then put on senior engineer Seán Lenihan by Cllr Norton, “it is your job to come in and clarify, it should not have been brought in today”.
Lenihan advised the meeting, “The issue has been raised as a matter arising which is in order, I’m repeating what I’m saying the last day, I don’t see a conflict of interest, we’re complying with the SIPO regulations”. He said someone being a member of a committee was not a conflict of interest.
He was reminded by Cllr O’Callaghan, “It clearly states in the act that a councillor must withdraw from meeting” to which Lenihan stressed “the definition of a conflict of interest is important”. Clare County Council are “subject to strict auditing” annually, Lenihan stressed.
According to Cllr Howard it was Cllr Norton who was “shouted down” as she asked for her to be allowed to speak on the matter. “This conversation is nothing more than misogyny, look that up in the dictionary, you seem to target women in this Chamber the whole time,” she said to Cllr O’Callaghan.
A calmer Cllr Norton then addressed the meeting, Is Cllr Tom O’Halloran (sic) not going to give me an apology for issuing infactual (sic) material. I’m extremely insulted from the comments made, I’ve been very forthcoming in everything I’ve done over the past ten years”. She said her work with Clare Crusaders has been done on a voluntary basis, “I’ve a 27 year old daughter with a serious illness, we’re providing support for 439 children, the only benefit I’ve received is that my daughter and 439 other children in this county are receiving a weekly or monthly service”.
No apology was issued by Cllr O’Callaghan who said Howard’s remarks contained “an accusation that was most staged to suggest I single out anyone”. He said the contribution of Cllr Howard was “very distasteful”.
