Call for independent mediator to resolve Limerick mayoral deadlock

LIMERICK Labour TD Conor Sheehan has called for Government to appoint an independent mediator to resolve the high-profile row between Mayor John Moran and members of the local authority.

In a lengthy blog-post on his personal website, the first directly elected mayor in Ireland accused some councillors of exploiting his "ill health" and harbouring "personal hostility" towards him.

He claims their actions form part of a deliberate strategy to “make the role unbearable” and “create such sufficient pressure I might walk away”.

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In his blog, he added there has been a "pattern of resistance" from some councillors.

His intervention appears to have been prompted by a bad-tempered meeting last Tuesday on the council's corporate plan, a document which is a roadmap setting out what the council aims to achieve, how it will do it, and the values guiding its work.

Mr Sheehan, who also ran in the election which saw Mayor Moran elected, has called on the Government to bring forward a review of how the office is going 18 months in.

“John Moran was elected emphatically by the people of Limerick less than two years ago, alongside 40 elected councillors. Pretending that the current situation is working, or that it is good for Limerick, is simply not credible," the TD said.

He believes at the heart of the "dysfunction" are ambiguities in the legislation around the office of directly elected mayor.

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"That lack of clarity has now led to paralysis. The purpose of a directly elected mayor is to provide leadership, accountability and momentum, not stalemate. These issues must be addressed as a matter of urgency in the legislative review, and an independent mediator should be appointed to help restore effective working relationships in the meantime," he said.

“Limerick is currently lagging badly on delivery, with just 34% of its overall housing targets met and only 70% of its social housing targets delivered. These are the real issues facing people. Oireachtas members, councillors, the mayor and the council executive must be focused on working together to deliver homes, not stuck in a governance stand-off," Mr Sheehan added.

During last week's meeting, Mayor Moran left the chamber early complaining of feeling unwell and councillors voted through the corporate plan in his absence.

Mayor Moran's first 18 months in the historic role have been marked with clashes between councillors, and on one occasion, the local authority's director general, Dr Pat Daly.

Following the mayor's comments this week, Limerick Live contacted Fianna Fail's leader on the local authority, Cllr Michael Collins, who declined to comment.

Fine Gael's leader, Cllr John Sheahan of Glin issued a brief statement on behalf of his party colleagues.

“Recent debate around the corporate plan reflects the reality of a shared democratic system within Limerick City and County Council. The Mayor and councillors alike hold mandates from the people of Limerick, and robust discussion is part of  responsible governance," he said.

Cllr Sheahan said that his party remains committed to "constructive engagement" with Mayor Moran and all other colleagues "to ensure the new system works effectively for everyone."

Sinn Fein Cappamore-Kilmallock councillor PJ Carey has said the "largest parties", namely Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are "undermining" the office of directly elected maytor.

“What happened in the council chamber last Tuesday is deeply concerning. Major amendments to the corporate plan were introduced at the last minute, without proper circulation or the opportunity for full public debate. That is not how democratic scrutiny should work," he added.

Cllr Sharon Benson, City North added: "The directly elected mayor was intended to give Limerick stronger leadership, more accountability and greater ability to deliver for communities. Instead, we are now seeing what many people will recognise as the same Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael cosy club politics that has held back progress for too long. Whether it is housing, infrastructure or investment in communities, people across Limerick are struggling and need real delivery - not procedural manoeuvring."

It was a sentiment shared by the Green Party's sole councillor, Sean Hartigan.

He described the seven-hour meeting as an "affront to democracy".

"It's no secret that many have done everything they can to scupper any progress by the mayor from the get-go. The discussions on how to get rid of him began in the Racecourse when it became evident he was going to win," Cllr Hartigan claimed.

"The ongoing conflict is stopping progress in Limerick; People need to let their councillors know this is not acceptable. Limerick voters also nemed to ask the less vocal Fine Gael and Fianna Fail councillors why they continue to support colleagues whose primary agenda is to oust the maytor and get one of their own elected."