Limerick councillors press pause on recording
“IF anybody here thinks that you haven't been recorded, then you are nuts”.
That was the sentiment of Councillor Sean Hartigan at a recent meeting of Limerick City and County Council.
Both a question and notice of motion were discussed with regards to councillor's rights in relation to the video or sound recording of council meetings.
Under current standing orders, no one attending the meeting, including councillors and members of the public, are allowed to record in any way.
This matter has been discussed numerous times with councillors voicing opinions for and against the recording of meetings.
Cllr Hartigan proposed at the meeting that all meetings should be recorded to protect councillors in the case that they were misquoted or their comments were edited and shared out of context.
The Green Party member asked for legal advice to be sought on the matter with councillors agreeing to defer the motion until such advice was given.
Councillors asked for clarification on if there is a legal barrier to recording meetings and what sanctions can be imposed if a recording is made by an individual.
Mr Hartigan said that councillors were “nuts” if they thought they hadn't been recorded previously and assured them that they more than likely had been.
Some members of the local authority opposed the idea, others said it would allow business to be conducted in a more “professional” manner.