Minutes 2021

Minutes of June Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on Monday, 14th June, 2021 at 10.00am in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Baker(R),
  • Councillor Bree,
  • Councillor Casserly(R),
  • Councillor Clarke,
  • Councillor Connolly(R),
  • Councillor Fox, Gibbons,
  • Councillor Gilroy,
  • Councillor Mullaney,
  • Councillor Mulvey,
  • Councillor O’Grady(R),
  • Councillor

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Tom Kilfeather, A/Chief Executive
  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services (C)
  • Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services (C)
  • Jimmy O’Brien, A/H.I.S. 
  • Kevin Colreavy, Meetings Administrator
  • Pauline Lavelle, Staff Officer
  • Seán Martin, A/Senior Architect(C)

 

(R) = participated in the meeting remotely

(C) = participated via County Hall Video Link

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

  • Cathaoirleach, Councillor Dara Mulvey, presided.

 

APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Councillor Healy, Councillor MacSharry, Councillor Maguire, Councillor O’Boyle, Councillor Taylor and Councillor Walsh.

 

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETING:

The Cathaoirleach welcomed all present and asked Mr. Kilfeather, Acting Chief Executive and Compliance Officer for the meeting (as required under Health and Safety protocols) to set out the procedures that were in place.

Members participating remotely were Councillors Baker, Casserly, Connolly and O’Grady. 

 

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING AS A MARK OF RESPECT TO FORMER COUNCILLOR PAUL CONMY:

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor G. Mullaney

AND AGREED

“That the Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council on 14th June 2021 be adjourned as a mark of respect to the late former Councillor Paul Conmy.”

At the outset, the Cathaoirleach, Councillor Mulvey paid tribute to Mr. Conmy, and extended his sympathy to his wife Breda, son Keith, daughters Caroline, Siobhán, Elaine, grandchildren, extended family and friends.

Mr. Conmy, a former Councillor with Sligo County Council, was described by the Cathaoirleach as being an outstanding public representative who was a great ambassador for the people of West Sligo and was known far and wide for his friendly nature and generous personality.  Mr. Conmy was first elected to Sligo Council in 1979 and served until 2009 and was a dedicated public representative, who gave a lifetime of public service to his community, who held him in very high regard. 

Mr. Conmy held a number of important positions during his time as a Councillor, having served as Leas Cathaoirleach in 2000, and he chaired the Council’s Strategic Policy Committee on Environment.  He also made a major contribution during his term as Chair of the North Western Health Board.

The strong presence of Councillors, former Councllors and staff at his funeral was an  indication of the regard in which he was held.

Mr. Conmy, the Cathaoirleach stated, was greatly respected by the Elected Members he served with and his wide range of interests was reflected in the issues he tabled for discussion in the Council Chamber.  He will always be fondly remembered by the Elected Members and staff and their thoughts and prayers are with his wife Breda and family at this sad time.

Councillor Mullaney paid tribute to Mr. Conmy, stating that he served with Paul as a member of Sligo County Council from 2004 to 2009 and fondly remembered Mr. Conmy as one of the most hard working and enthusiastic public representative he has had the pleasure of serving with.  The fact that he was a public representative for more than thirty years is a testament to the regard in which he was held by all who knew him. He worked tirelessly on behalf of  his constituents, always ensuring to deliver on any issues that needed to be addressed. 

Councillor Bree wished to support the proposal to adjourn the meeting as a mark of respect to his former colleague, Paul Conmy. Councillor Bree stated that since Mr. Conmy was elected to the Council in 1979, he remained a loyal member of and ardent supporter of Fine Gael, in particular his support of Enda Kenny, Michael Ring and local Minister of State, John Perry. Paul’s contributions to many lively debates in this Chamber are memorable, as was his deep commitment to the people of West Sligo.

Councillor Queenan wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy and recalled serving with Mr. Conmy for ten years and despite political differences, when it came to local issues they worked together as a team, and Councillor Queenan fondly remembered him as one of the great characters of Sligo County Council.

Councillor Clarke wished to extend his sympathies to Mr. Conmy’s family on his passing, and he stated that many resolved issues in West Sligo today are a direct tribute to Mr. Conmy’s hard work for the area, notably  Waterworld in Enniscrone. He was, Councillor Clarke added, an avid advocator for Cancer services, and fought hard to have these services retained in Sligo, and his legacy will live on long into the future.

Councillor Fox wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy and the tributes being paid to Mr. Conmy.  Councillor Fox described Mr. Conmy as ‘larger than life and never shy about speaking his mind’ and a loyal member of the Fine Gael party.

Councillor Gilroy wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy and added that he had never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Conmy but that it is evident from the tributes being paid to him today and from the large turnout at his funeral, including the Guard of Honour, of the high regard in which he was held by all who knew him. 

Councillor Gibbons, on behalf of himself and his Sinn Féin colleagues, in particular, Seán and Chris MacManus, who both served with Mr. Conmy, wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy to Mr. Conmy’s family.  Councillor Gibbons recalled his association with Mr. Conmy in their joint battle to retain the Cancer Services in Sligo, a cause close to both of their hearts.

Councillor  Baker wished to express his sympathies to Mr. Conmy’s family and added that Mr. Conmy was a truly dedicated member of Sligo County Council. Councillor Baker also recalled a very ‘lively’ Chamber during Mr. Conmy’s term of office and stated that it was a pleasure to have known such a character, always true to his party, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Councillor O’Grady wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy and paid tributes to Mr. Conmy as one of the great characters of local politics, and a very loyal member of the Fine Gael party.  Councillor O’Grady recalled having the privilege of working with him on the North Western Health Board, and also recalled him always speaking so fondly of his wife Breda and his children, to whom he was devoted.

Councillor Connolly wish to be associated with the vote of sympathy and stated that while he did not know Mr. Conmy personally, he knew him from Fine Gael meetings, where he always spoke his mind and was a loyal member of the Fine Gael party.

Councillor Casserly wished to extend her sympathies to Mr. Conmy’s family and the wider community and added that while she did not know Mr. Conmy, from what she has heard about him, he was a very fair and hard working Councillor who was popular and liked by all who knew him.

Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, wished to join with the Cathaoirleach and Members in extending sympathy on his own behalf, and on behalf of the staff on Sligo County Council current and past, to Mr. Conmy’s wife Breda, daughters Caroline, Siobhán, Elaine and son Keith, and his family and friends.  Mr. Kilfeather added that, as recalled at today’s meeting, Paul was a character and a fine public representative and it was a pleasure to work with hm and engage with him over the years.

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Mulvey, thanked all present for the heartfelt tributes paid to their departed colleague.

It was proposed by Councillor G. Mullaney
Seconded by Councillor T. Fox

AND AGREED

“That the meeting stand adjourned until Friday 18th June, 2021 at 2.00pm.”

 

END OF MEETING:

The business of the meeting concluded at 10.20am.


Meeting Date 14/06/2021