Fianna Fáil Councillor becomes new Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council
FIANNA Fáil Councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick has been elected to the role of Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council.
The Portarlington man was proposed by Cllr Robert McDermott (Fianna Fáil) and seconded by Cllr John Leahy (Independent) during the annual AGM of the Council last week.
Cllr Clare Claffey (Social Democrats) was also proposed for the role by Cllr Seán O'Brien (Independent), which was seconded by Cllr Mark Hackett (Green Party).
A vote was taken on the matter, with 15 councillors raising their hands for Cllr Fitzpatrick and three for Cllr Claffey.
Outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Frank Moran (Fianna Fáil) thanked the other councillors and the executive for their courtesy and professionalism during his year in the Chair.
“It was a huge honour for me to be in the Chair,” he remarked. “Offaly is dear to all of our hearts. Improving Offaly is what we are all about here.” He said one of the highlights for him during the year was visiting New York and taking part in three St Patrick's Day parades. He thanked the Leas Cathaoirleach for the last 12 months, Cllr Tony McCormack (Fianna Fáil), for his commitment and support. He thanked his family for their support.
Cllr McCormack said Cllr Moran had enjoyed “a fantastic year in the Chair. It is always a pleasure and a privilege to work on behalf of the people of Offaly.”
Cllr Neil Feighery (Fine Gael) said the outgoing Chair had been “a very capable and honourable representative of our county.”
Cllr Seán O'Brien said Cllr Moran gave a fair hearing to every councillor when he was chairing the meetings.
Cllr Declan Harvey (Fianna Fáil) joked that Cllr Moran “had big boots to fill – mine! Seriously, you did a fantastic job.”
Cllr Leahy said Cllr Moran had always shown “the utmost professionalism.”
“You were very fair during the Council meetings,” added Cllr Hackett. “You gave us all a good chance to speak.”
“You represented our county and the Fianna Fáil party in an excellent way,” commented Cllr Eamon Dooley (Fianna Fáil).
When proposing Cllr Claffey for the role of Chair Cllr O'Brien said she was the only female councillor in the Council.
“I think it is long overdue that a female councillor sits in the Chair.”
Referring to the Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil hegemony in the Council, Cllr O'Brien appealed to the other councillors to look beyond those two parties and, in the spirit of fairness, give the job to someone from another party. He added that there have been very few female Cathaoirleachs of the Council over the decades.
Cllr Hackett said Cllr Claffey is an “excellent role model for all women and girls.”
When nominating Cllr Fitzpatrick, Cllr Robert McDermott said Cllr Fitzpatrick has “a wealth of experience. He was previously Chair in 2016 and he was Cathaoirleach of Edenderry Municipal District on three occasions.”
Cllr Leahy pointed out that it will be a challenging year to be Cathaoirleach because the local elections are taking place next year.
Cllr Liam Quinn said the Fine Gael grouping in the Council was supporting the proposal to elect Cllr Fitzpatrick to the Chair.
After the applause had died away and he had accepted the Chain of Office, Cllr Fitzpatrick said he's been in local politics for nearly 20 years. He pointed out that “without the support of your family it is very difficult to do the job of a councillor."
He thanked his son for doing the farmwork on the home farm.
Cllr Claffey thanked her proposer and seconder and congratulated Cllr Fitzpatrick on being elected to the Chair.
“I am disappointed to have lost the vote,” she remarked, “but I can't say that I am shocked.”
Cllr Hackett also congratulated Cllr Fitzpatrick. “I have known you for many years and I am sure you will do an excellent job.”
Cllr John Carroll (Independent) commented that it's a great honour to serve as Cathaoirleach of the County Council. He said Cllr Fitzpatrick is a hard worker, and Cllr Moran was “a great ambassador for the county.”
Cllr Danny Owens (Fianna Fáil) was elected to the role of Leas Cathaoirleach.