New Rights for Council Meetings

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday July 30, 2002 10:06 by Justin - Sinn Fein maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Details on expanded, though still insufficent, rights for people wishing to attend Council meetings.

A Cháirde,

I am writing to bring to the attention of our members throughout the 26 Counties of recent changes to Town and County Council meetings as a result of the 2001 Local Government Act. Overall, this Act is a disgrace from the point of view of Town Local Government in the 26 Counties, but there is one small silver lining that we should be aware of.

Since 17th July, EVERY Town and County Council has adopted new Standing Orders and included in these, MUST be a provision to:

1. Allow members of the Public to ATTEND Council meetings as Observers.

2. Have the AGENDA of Council meetings displayed in the Council Offices.

3. Allow any member of the Public to go to their local Town Hall to READ THE MINUTES of the previous Council meeting.

4. Allow any member of the Public to PURCHASE for a reasonable price, Minutes of Council Meetings.

These are issues that Sinn Féin has called for years to be part of Local Government in the interests of democracy, accountability and transparency.

Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin