Louth's McGeough slams 'grubby little deal' excluding SF from positions

Cllr Pearse McGeough has slammed, what he described as a "grubby little deal", the election of the new Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council at the Annual Meeting, held on Friday.

Cllr Kevin Callan was elected as Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, with Cllr John Reilly elected as Leas Cathaoirleach at the annual meeting, with both Cllr Callan receiving 19 votes and Cllr Reilly receiving 19 votes in their respective elections.

Cllr Pearse McGeough (standing for Cathaoirleach) and Cllr Antóin Watters (standing for Leas Cathaoirleach) both received seven votes from the Sinn Féin councillors, with three councillors abstaining in both votes.

Following the election of the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Kevin Meenan spoke, first congratulating Cllr Callan, but then going on to say that “for me it's a sad process today". Cllr Meenan said that he had spoken to each political party and tried to come up with a system that would mean that all 29 councillors would have a chance to be a Chair or Vice Chair over the next five years in the respective areas and county council."

He told the meeting that he had been asked how his party would deal with inclusiveness, for events like Remembrance Day and attending them; as well as would they support the budget process. Cllr Meenan said that they already attend remembrance events and that they support the budget process and that "this was a positional pact, not a policy pact", going on to say that "to me the reasons given to me [for not agreeing to the proposed system] were completely disingenuous".

Cllr Meenan went on to say that "my respect for some people in this room has plummeted to new depths", adding that "we chose the cheap and tacky rather than the all inclusive route" and that it would "set the tone for the next five years."

Speaking after Cllr Meenan, Cllr Pearse McGeough thanked Cllr Watters and Cllr Meenan for nominating him for the role of Cathaoirleach, and went on to say that "I'm also proud to stand up to this grubby little deal that excludes my party, and others, from positions on this council."

He continued, saying that "this grubby little pact is based on either a greed for money, or the usual 'looking after the boys' cosy cartel politics, that the parties involved had earned a reputation for", adding "or its a deliberate, sinister attempt to exclude Republicans and others, and the mandates they received from their voters. Whatever the reason, and it could be all three, it's not in the interest of the citizens of this county."

Cllr McGeough added, "Here we have another five years of the same grubby attempts to keep inequality alive in this council. Shame on all those who are showing contempt for the electorate. If they could only see you now."