Midlands 103

Search

Listen Live

On Air Now

6:30am - 9:00am

Peter Dunne

Enrique Iglesias & Miranda Lambert

Space In My Heart

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.

More from Midlands News

€18k Made Available To Fund Midlands Age And Opportunity Programme

The funding is part of an overall €7.4m from the Active National Grant
Housing Minister Predicts Falling Midlands Homelessness

Daragh O'Brien was in Portlaoise yesterday.
€200,000 In Cash And Substantial Amount Of Drugs Seized In Laois

A man and a woman have been arrested.
Massive Laois Operation Leads To Multiple Arrests In Connection With Stolen Vehicles

10 suspects were identified in December.
Over 300 New Dwellings Completed In The Midlands This Year

Nationally, there was a decrease of 12% on the same period last year.
Concerns Raised Over Emergency Power Plant In The Midlands

The project is expected to be completed in the near future.
National Ploughing Association Appoints New President, Chair And Vice-Chair

Five new appointees were announced today.
Offaly Boy 'Raring To Go' After Life-Saving Procedure

Joey Conway and his family travelled to the US for the surgery.
Over €7m In Just Transition Funding For The Midlands

€18m is being provided nationally across 15 projects.
Cancer Numbers Could Double By 2045 - Offaly Charity

Dóchas is calling on additional investment from Government.
First-Ever Laois Cost-Rental Homes Officially Opened

The Housing Minister was in Laois today to open the units.
Late Laois Two-Year-Old's Organs Used To Save Three Children

Hannah Kealy's mum is asking people to consider donating their organs.
State Expects To Exceed 2023 Midlands Housing Delivery

Just over 1,800 homes were built in the region last year.
Abolishment Of Carer's Means Test May Be Halted By "Permanent Government"

A motion has been put forward to replace test with a system based solely on needs of care.
Ryanair Calling On EU To Protect Flights Amid French Air Strikes

2,000 European flights have been cancelled today.
Low Cost Home Heating Loans The Final Piece Of Retrofitting Jigsaw - Pippa Hackett

Home owners can borrow money at low interest rates to make the home more energy efficient.
Gardaí Advising Motorists To Avoid Midlands Road

Emergency services are at the scene.
Drugs Are Being Drone-Dropped Into Midlands Prison

Prison Officers are calling for anti-drone technology.
Laois County Council Votes To Adopt New Local Area Plan

The new plan covers the needs of the mobility impaired as well as housing for students in SETU.
100k Children Missed Out On Dental School Screening In 2023

The dental workforce has declined by over a fifth in the last 17 years.

Download Our App

Never miss a moment from Midlands 103