How do you get invited to the gentleman’s club?
By Maurice Garvey
A COUNCILLOR asked what she has to do to “get an invitation to the gentlemen’s club” in frustration at a lack of information regarding nominations for local committees.
At the recent Dublin South Central area meeting, councillors were asked to nominate two members to Bluebell Community Council - to assist early stage proposals for an area masterplan.
People Before Profit Councillor Hazel Norton said she has been trying to get information on local plans for “six months”, whilst Independent Councillor Vincent Jackson felt he was being asked to make a decision based on “something I know nothing about.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Greg Kelly, said all councillors were invited to a first meeting of the resident steering group back in 2015.
Independent4Change Cllr Paul Hand said the Bluebell community development project initially organised a meeting with local groups and councillors “but when it got down to brass tacks, some didn’t attend, and emails got lost.”
Cllr Norton said: “There has been a lack of transparency and I’m not putting it back on the community, because the community have also come looking to me for answers.
“I recognise Greg Kelly and Aengus O’Snodaigh have been involved, and that I’ve only been a councillor for two years, but I’ve never once received any update or feedback. I’m not criticising any of the work people are doing, but there is a proposal coming down the line, a huge development for the area.”
She continued: “I’ve been asking for information for six months, and been told to go back and talk to the developer and community workers. I don’t understand where the block is. It could be easily resolved with more communication.”
Cllr Jackson said he has spoken to a number of people in Bluebell “who know nothing about this plan.”
He said: “People can’t get to every meeting. But when you ask people for one meeting and they don’t attend, and you don’t hear anything else, well you sort of get the feeling it wasn’t a very generous offer to come on board. Our role is to ensure the rejuvenation of communities. I think in the interests of transparency there should be four councillors.”
Cllr Hand suggested deferring the decision for a month and to invite all six local councillors to the first community forum meeting this week for a discussion.
Cllrs Ní Dhálaigh and Doolan urged caution against sending more councillors to the meeting.
“Residents don’t like committee’s with too many councillors,” said Ní Dhálaigh.
Cllr Doolan said he couldn’t attend the Bluebell meetings, but was informed of updates by his party colleague Cllr Kelly.
“If we send six councillors to a resident meeting, when they asked for two, I think residents will go nuts, and quite rightly. I’m happy to elect two councillors. We have to respect their request and trust in the democratic process.”
Dublin City Council area manager Vincent Norton, accepted “a serious breakdown in communication with all councillors” and proposed the committee nominate two councillors.
In response, Cllr Norton said: “Did we not just nominate three councillors onto the St Michael’s regeneration board last month. Is it not just the same councillors going forward for the Inchicore/Kilmainham network.
“What does one have to do to get an invitation to the gentlemen’s club. It would be great to have representation broadened out across committees.”
Councillors voted 5-4 to defer the request for a month, in order to discuss the proposals with the Bluebell residents group.
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