BREAKING: Director general Dr Pat Daly says he is 'fearful' for future of Limerick City and County Council

LIMERICK councillors have taken the almost unprecedented step of passing a motion of confidence in local authority director general Dr Pat Daly and his Limerick City and County Council staff.

It follows a week of communication between Mayor John Moran and council staff, plus Dr Daly and his own staff and local councillors over an interview Mayor Moran gave to local radio over the preparations for Christmas in Limerick. In this, the first citizen said: "It's a question of higher standards".

At a stormy special meeting of the council this Tuesday afternoon, Fianna Fail council leader, Cllr Michael Collins formally proposed the motion of confidence after the interview, which he described as "toxic".

And in an extraordinary intervention, council director general, Dr Daly admitted he fears for the future of Limerick City and County Council.

He said staff are “fatigued” and he is “genuinely worried for them”.

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"You threw Dr Daly, his executive and staff of this organisation under a bus," said Cllr Collins.

"It has been a huge topic of debate among management, staff, councillors and the general public since that toxic interview took place. Your favourite mantra is trust and transparency and I question that."

"Let me tell you mayor: morale was never as low in this organisation and has been since the Mayoral election in 2024," he added "We have seen management, personnel, senior staff members leave this council - and I’m also aware of staff members out on sick leave."

The confidence motion was seconded by Fine Gael council leader, Cllr John Sheahan who added: "I am flabbergasted all our competencies are being questioned."

He described the council as a "s**tshow" as things are at present, a sentiment reflected by Cllr Adam Teskey, who called the Government department responsible for the directly elected mayoralty to intervene.

Cllr Sheahan said: "This council was working fine prior to the introduction of the directly elected mayor.

"We are at the coalface, and every place I went, I was asked, what the hell are you doing inside there? I can tell from staff's body language that things are not working in sync. If there is a toxic element to the thing, we need to flush it out. The public are not fully aware of what is going on behind the scenes."

Cllr Joe Leddin of Labour supported the motion, as did Independent councillors Frankie Daly and Brigid Teefy.

Cllr Kieran O'Hanlon, the longest serving member of the local authority said: "We respect the fact the staff come to work in the best manner they can do it, and we are proud of the work they do."

He pointed out how council officials have families, and asked Mayor Moran how he imagines they feel when hearing their work being "rubbished" on local radio.

A number of councillors took the mayor to task for "browsing on his phone" while they were addressing him.

In response Mayor Moran acknowledged there are "staffing constraints" at the local authority.

"The sharp reality is in the real world, there is a need for Ireland to do a reset in the way we deliver across Government to deliver a better country," he said.

Mayor Moran claimed he was "muted" at a previous online meeting of the local authority "by someone who didn't necessarily like what I was trying to say".

He pointed out that 700 homes are planned in Limerick, but in real terms, thousands are needed.

"I believe staff in this organisation have done amazing work. I do not believe they are supported fully to do what they need to do. I have listened to ridicule, but I've not heard concern about my family in that respect. I've been elected to deliver a better Limerick. I've worked with Pat Daly, and I'd like to continue to do so," he added.

Mayor Moran said it is "absolutely correct" to have a vote of confidence in the director general.

"But we need to take a look at ourselves in the context of demand, in the context of resourcing."

No counter-motion was forthcoming, and so the motion, which reads 'do you have confidence in Dr Daly, The executive and all the staff of Limerick City and County Council?' was passed.

Dr Daly thanked members for their kind words, but admitted: "I am worried about the future of the organisation. We are at the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end."

It's extremely rare that a political group would launch an action to show their confidence in non-political figures, which is what Dr Daly, and his staff in the council, ultimately are.

The move, which appeared to catch Mayor Moran by surprise, took place after last Wednesday, October 25, the first citizen made the above mentioned comments on local radio about Christmas in Limerick, adding he was elected "to be more demanding".

This prompted Dr Daly on Thursday, October 26, to email council staff and local representatives expressing his "disappointment" over the mayor's comments.

In the email, marked "for internal circulation only", the director general stated he and his colleagues "remain committed to maintaining a positive, respectful, and productive working environment."

But in a further email - sent only to council staff and not councillors - on Friday night, October 27, Mayor Moran stated Limerick City and County Council needs a "specific new experienced team” to guide it through the “transformation” brought about by his election.

He added he was "disappointed" with the communication from Dr Daly, insisting: "There are two sides to every debate."

Speaking at this Tuesday's meeting, Dr Daly said he felt "uncomfortable sending the email", but he will always defend the local authority and its staff, describing it as "a bloody good organisation".

He asked Mayor Moran to give the council staff time and space.