Independent councillor in running for County Mayor’s role
By Aideen O'Flaherty
INDEPENDENT councillor Peter Kavanagh has been named as the frontrunner to become Mayor of South Dublin County Council on Friday, June 25, when the current mayor, Cllr Ed O’Brien, will step down after a year of representing the region.
Cllr Kavanagh has been nominated by Fianna Fáil and the Green group, alongside Green Party councillor Laura Donaghy who has been tipped for deputy mayor.
Former Green member and now independent Cllr Peter Kavanagh is in the running for the new mayor’s role
The Echo understands that Fine Gael is considering nominating Independent councillors Ronan McMahon and Alan Hayes for mayor and deputy mayor respectively.
The nominations have been made by the council’s ruling group, consisting of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.
The ruling group previously agreed that in the third year of the current council they would nominate Green Party councillors for the positions of mayor and deputy mayor.
However, two councillors have since left the Green Party, namely Peter Kavanagh, now an Independent, and Liam Sinclair, now a member of An Rabharta Glas-Green Left, so three of the four councillors mooted for the roles are independent candidates.
Cllr Kavanagh told The Echo: “According to the ruling group’s agenda, the third year of the council would have a Green Party mayor.
“But the two members of the Green Party in the council are less experienced as they’re co-optees, so I’m very happy to accept the nomination.”
If successful, Cllr Kavanagh said green policies will be at the forefront of his plans, as will ensuring equality for people around the county.
“There’s a lot that I want to do around climate action and promoting biodiversity,” he explained.
Cllr Kavanagh added that his “biggest priority” will be around inclusion, particularly for members of the LGBTQ+ and Traveller communities, “and people who weren’t born here but have made their home here.”
Despite leaving the party, Cllr Kavanagh said he still has a strong working relationship with Green Party councillors and he has “the full endorsement of the party” for running for mayor.
“Ever since I’ve left, I’ve had a very positive relationship with the party,” he said.
Fine Gael’s potential nominees for the position of mayor and deputy mayor are independent councillors Ronan McMahon and Alan Hayes, but a party source added that a firm decision has not yet been made.
When asked about potentially being nominated for deputy mayor, Cllr Hayes said: “My understanding is that it’s to be decided.
“What I’m expecting is that a Green Party candidate will be nominated for deputy mayor, so I’m not aware that my name may have been formally put forward.
“It’s open to any elected member to nominate somebody for mayor and deputy mayor, and ultimately it will be up to the councillors to decide who it will be.”
The election of the new mayor and deputy mayor will take place on Friday afternoon, when Mayor O’Brien and Deputy Mayor David McManus will hand over the mayoral chains.
Read an interview with outgoing County Mayor Ed O’Brien HERE.
