Angry reaction from cllrs 'insulted' by prohibition
TOLD TO 'LISTEN RATHER THAN TALK' AT BUSINESS MEETING
The local business community turned out in numbers to last weeks meeting but local councillors were not allowed to participate.
Wednesday March 17 2010
COUNCILLORS have reacted angrily to the way they were not allowed to participate in the crisis meeting held in Drogheda last week, where Drogheda Chamber members and traders were invited to speak.
Although many of the borough councillors called it productive meeting, comments ranged from 'disrespectful', 'a very strange procedure' to 'outrageously insulting' when it came to the issue of them being present, but asked to 'listen rather than talk'.
'I cannot speak on behalf of all the council members, but having spoken to them all I can say they are not happy with not being able to respond to some very valid issues brought up at the meeting last Tuesday night,' says Mayor Micheál O'Dowd.
'Personally, I feel the council was totally misrepresented in the rates
a issue, and I am annoyed with the chamber for not respecting our position, and I feel it was set up to be a 'council-bashing session'.
Cllr O'Dowd, who was present at the meeting, along with his brother FG TD Fergus, says he has looked at the rates figures for all of Ireland, and last year's reduction of 3% for Drogheda was the highest in the country.
'Louth County Council's reduction was also the second highest in the country, and a lot of work went into that and we should have had a chance to correct any misapprehensions there may be.'
Mr O'Dowd says the council members will continue to work with the chamber however, he found the way the meeting was run to be 'a very strange procedure'.
'I had raised the question of council participation prior to the meeting, and was very disappointed that there wasn't even one spokesman permitted to respond,' he added.
'For instance, it was asked that the chamber have access to decision making because of contributions, well that had never been allowed, and only three hours before the meeting, the two parties had met at a very positive economic forum meeting, and that wasn't even mentioned.'
The majority of council members contacted the Drogheda Independent with responses.
Speaking on behalf of the council, Mayor Micheál O'Dowd said action was already being taken on a number of the key issues raised, such as more free parking and a major tourism plan.
- Alison COMYN
