CITY MANAGER TO SEEK LEGAL CLARIFICATION ON CHAMBER DISORDER RULES

Date Published: 12-Feb-2013

City Cllrs have voted in favour of new measures which, if implemented, would mean they risk losing their pay and privileges if they are deemed disorderly in the chamber.

A roll call was taken on the motion which was supported by 8 Cllrs, with seven strongly standing out against.

The change means the Chair could, in making an adjournment due to disorderly behaviour, have all remuneration and privileges of the member in question suspended and not reinstated until he or she purges their contempt to the council.

Cllr Catherine Connolly was one of seven to vote against and said that the council would be a laughing stock if it talks about purging contempt, adding that it had so many faults, it was leaving itself wide open.

Cllr Nuala Nolan also spoke against and said the difficulty was that the chair becomes judge, jury and executioner.

After lengthy heated debate surrounding the legality of the measure, City Manager Joe O’Neill said any decision on standing orders will be checked legally before implementation.

Speaking after the vote, Fianna Fail Cllr Peter Keane who proposed the motion said it’s about respect in the chamber and trying to give teeth to existing standing orders: