National survey reveals harassment, threats, intimidation endured by some councillors
More than seven in 10 councillors have been threatened, harassed and intimidated during the past three years. That’s the shocking results of a new survey by the Association of Irish Local Government in partnership with the Crime Management Group. The report identified responses representing almost quarter of all councillors in…
Councillors receiving mileage for virtual meetings
It’s been claimed that some councillors are being paid for travel expenses as normal for meetings that are being held online. The Irish Independent reports the distance from a councillor’s home to the main offices of a council is a factor in the calculation of the annual travel-rate element…
Independent radio stations deserve to be supported in this crisis – Harkin
The Independent radio sector, as well as local newspapers need to be given more support during this crisis. Thats according to a number of rural Independent TDs, including Sligo/Leitrim’s Marian Harkin and Roscommon/East Galway’s Michael Fitzmaurice. The Independent group are calling on Minister Richard Bruton to release more funding for…
Councillors to share out spoils of victory at first meetings after election tomorrow, Friday
Tomorrow (Friday), the new Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim county councils will hold their first meetings following the local elections. For newly elected councillors and their families, it will be another celebratory occasion as the new representatives make their political debuts. The first items on the agenda for the annual general…
New councillors ‘thrown in at the deep end’
A Sligo councillor is calling for a handbook to be prepared that will advise new councillors on their responsibilities and the resources available to them. Fine Gael Councillor Sinead Maguire is making the call based on her own experience of being a first-time councillor. Another reason for the proposed handbook…
Councillors unhappy over absence of planners, officials from meetings
A number of south Donegal councillors have hit out over the absence of council planners from municipal district meetings. At yesterday’s MD meeting in Donegal Town, Fine Gael Councillor Barry O Neill said it was the third time this year that there was no one present from the planning department.…
Ethics body to hold public hearings in probe of three councillors
The Standards in Public Office Commission is to hold public hearings later this year as part of its investigation into three councillors from Sligo, Donegal and Monaghan. It arises from interviews with the councillors broadcast in an RTE Prime Time programme almost two and a half years ago. The Standards…