Councillors ask if there is ‘level of secrecy when Minister comes out’ to the area
HOUSING Minister Eoghan Murphy was criticised after snubbing local councillors once more.
The Minister officially opened the rapid build site in Knocknarea, Drimnagh the week before Christmas – councillors receiving notice of his visit 10 minutes beforehand through a text notification.
12 months ago, Murphy attended the opening of a €10 million senior citizens development in Annamore Court, Ballyfermot, without any prior communication with councillors, some of whom worked on the project for years.
Cllr Vincent Jackson asked why there was a “level of secrecy when a Minister comes out” and was it that “they’re afraid of protest.”
“If officials are aware of ministers coming out, they should inform councillors. I know sometimes we don’t like a protest but it is a little bit disingenuous to be told after an event has happened,” said Cllr Jackson.
“All too often we hear, the minister is arriving at 10am and were only informed 15 minutes beforehand. I find that hard to believe. It seems to happen when he wants to come out and it’s facilitated.”
Cllr Daithí Doolan revealed Murphy’s cabinet colleague Catherine Byrne – a South Central TD – was also unaware of the visit and “only found out 15 minutes before we did.”
“It’s not so much about protest but maybe a clash of ego and protest,” said Cllr Doolan.
The snub was an issue of “respect” or lack of it, according to Labour Cllr Rebecca Moynihan.
“We are the local authority and the elected councillors to the body for which they work,” said Cllr Moynihan.
“It is up to the department to inform local TD’s. The city council should inform local councillors and if it is a case of 10 minutes before something, don’t tell us because that’s even more insulting.”
Cllr Greg Kelly stated he was at his son’s school Christmas play when he got a text informing of the minister’s arrival to the development.
“I stayed until the play was over, and then went over but the minister was on his way out when I arrived,” said Cllr Kelly.
Dublin City Council South Central area manager Vincent Norton said they received “five minutes notice” of the Drimnagh visit, and immediately informed councillors.
Mr Norton said: “We deal with councillors first. If the housing department got notice, we didn’t. I agree fully that members should have been advised. We were told that the minister was going on a private visit but then it turned out to be a public visit.”
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