‘Nothing will be achieved by throwing stones at each other’

A COUNCILLOR claimed that Mayor Baby Pereppadan had shown “zero engagement, participation and contributions to the council” ahead of being elected as first citizen.

The remarks were made by Sinn Féin councillor for Tallaght South, Louise Dunne, ahead of the mayoral election and during the first meeting of the new council in the chamber on Friday.

Speaking after Mayor Pereppadan was nominated and ahead of the vote in the council chamber, Cllr Dunne explained why she would not support the Fine Gael councillor’s bid for mayor.

“I’m going to speak from a personal perspective, representing Tallaght South and, I suppose, having the experience over five years of the Fine Gael nomination [nominee],” she said.

“It was mentioned from Cllr Brady [Fine Gael councillor for Lucan] in relation to work ethic.

“So, myself and the [nominee] represent Tallaght South and have done for the last term.

“Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m hugely passionate about this council, I hold it with such regard and I see my position as a huge honour and a privilege.

“However, there are people who have been elected to the council and re-elected to this council, who didn’t hold the same regard in relation to work ethic.

“The Fine Gael [nominee], there was zero engagement, participation and contributions to the council.”

At this point, outgoing Mayor Alan Edge, who was chairing the meeting, interrupted Cllr Dunne as he said it appeared to be “a personal attack on an individual”.

Cllr Dunne disputed this, and then noted her overall dissatisfaction with Fine Gael and her reservations about a mayor from that party being elected.

“I have huge concerns about what their first priorities are, because we have known and have experience of Fine Gael targeting the most vulnerable in society,” she said.

Labour councillor Pamela Kearns, who was part of the alliance formed by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and some Independents to elect Mayor Pereppadan, defended the Fine Gael councillor.

“He’s an excellent councillor, he works very hard for his community and that’s what we’re here to try to do,” said Cllr Kearns.

“We’re all here to try and work hard for our community, collegially.

“Nothing will be achieved by throwing stones at each other. We’re not here to abuse each other’s parties.

“I think he’ll be an absolutely excellent mayor, and I’ll happily support him.”

Cllr Dunne’s party colleague, Cllr William Carey, later added to the discourse and referred to Cllr Dunne’s previous comments.

“I believe my colleague, Cllr Dunne, was quite right to raise the issue around whether a person should be put forward on behalf of their party,” he said.

“It’s the party policy…by no means are there any aspersions being cast on anyone in this chamber.”

READ: New Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Baby Pereppadan, told his council colleagues, “I won’t let you down”.