Laois Councillors Falling Out Over Public Access To Council Meetings

Thursday, 1 June 2023 06:28

Accusations of being "against transparency" were voiced in a recent meeting.

A row broke out among Laois councillors, after representatives voted against live-streaming meetings.

The vote was held after a sub-committee, which was established to make recommendations on the matter, couldn't come to an agreement.

Some of the arguments against the move related to the overall cost, which is expected to be around €25,000 annually, and it's believed the number of people who would watch the stream would be low.

There was also concern it would make the role of local media at the meetings, redundant.

On the other hand, the key argument for the move related to transparency, allowing the public to see the decisions behind local policies.

The final vote was 12 against, six for and one abstained.

Following the tally, Councillor Aisling Moran told those who voted against they should be 'ashamed' of themselves, and accused her former Fine Gael colleagues and Fianna Fáil councillors of being against 'transparency.'

Fianna Fáil's Paschal McEvoy fired back after that remark, and said Councillor Moran's comments were unfair.