Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to unite on Limerick council for grand coalition

LIMERICK City and County Council looks set to once again be governed by a grand coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

It’s a case of to the winners go the spoils, with the two Civil War parties having 23 councillors between them.

While the mayoralty is no longer up for grabs following the election of John Moran as Mayor of Limerick for a five-year term, there are a number of other paid positions which are being divided up.

Crucial among these is the new position of priomh chomhairleoir - or speaker - of the council with the holder of that office second only to the newly-elected mayor.

Five candidates are being put forward for the €30,000-a-year position with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail alternating between them.

Given the fact both parties have more than the magic number of 21 on council, it will make the annual vote for the one-year position a formality.

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In recognition of the fact Fine Gael won 13 seats compared to their rivals’ 10, it is Simon Harris’ party which will hold the role for three of the five years.

According to sources, the first candidate set to be given the chain of office for the role at the council’s first annual general meeting this Friday is Patrickswell’s Daniel McSweeney of Fine Gael.

He was returned to the Limerick City West LEA with a quota-busting 1,725 first preference votes at the local election.

Another big vote-getter, Fianna Fail’s Limerick City East poll topper Catherine Slattery will be elected chair in the second year.

The pendulum will swing back to Fine Gael in the third-year of this council with Newcastle West auctioneer Tom Ruddle likely to become priomh chomhairleoir. Adare’s Bridie Collins is expected to be in the position by year four.

And for the final year of this council, the office holder will, if the pact between the two parties holds, be Fine Gael councillor and former metropolitan district leader Sarah Kiely.

Dr Diarmuid Scully, a former mayor of Limerick, and now a lecturer in politics at University of Limerick has said the new role of priomh chomhairleoir is common in other countries which have directly-elected mayoral systems in place.

He said: “The role involves chairing the council meetings, calling meetings of the council, setting the agenda, speaking on behalf of the councillors to the executive. Only this time, the person who is on the executive (the mayor) is elected.”

He believes the role is needed to preserve the independence of the local authority. “It’s a vitally important role when it comes to holding the mayor to account. The council can sanction, or impeach the mayor. But the power to do this rests with the priomh chomhairleoir,” Dr Scully said.

He pointed out that where Mayor John Moran’s programme of office may differ with the wishes of the elected chamber, it will be the council speaker’s role to try and find common ground, with the holder speaking up for the rank-and-file council members.

Although Fianna Fail and Fine Gael can together command a majority on the overall council, the situation is slightly more complicated in the city.

That’s because the two parties are one member short of reaching the magic 11 required to control the Metropolitan District.

In order to secure a majority, the parties have turned to Labour and its three members - who will get two paid roles between them.

There were attempts from the 11 other councillors to try and govern without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

This would have seen a rainbow coalition of Labour, Sinn Fein, Social Democrats, Aontu, Green and Independent councillors.
The Leader understands these talks have collapsed though.