SDCC only local authority in Dublin not using the webcasting system for meetings
By Maurice Garvey
COUNCILLORS voted to defeat a motion to webcast meetings at South Dublin County Council this week – a move blasted as a “sad day for democracy” by councillors who supported the proposal.
SDCC is the only local authority in Dublin not to use a webcasting system – which allows the general public and media outlets with limited resources to watch full council and local area meetings.
The motion was defeated 15-9, with 16 councillors not in attendance for the vote at the OPF finance meeting.
Money was cited as a determining factor.
Of three options put forward by the council to councillors prior to the vote, the highest cost was €100k.
Independent Councillor Francis Timmons, who voted for webcasting, feels less expensive options could have been pursued.
“It’s disappointing, we could have looked at a local radio station or a college covering the meetings,” said Cllr Timmons.
“I honestly believe the decision was a bad one for democracy, with no full record of what is said and not said in the public domain. Sadly, the majority of councillors on SDCC felt this was not important.
“While there is a very low uptake on general public attendance, I feel webcasting could have bridged this information gap.’’
Social Democrats Councillor Dermot Looney, who voted for webcasting, said the council may be restricted in who they can employ for the service, but felt fellow members “only looked at super high ceilings.”
“One of the three options was 12k a year. If the corporate policy group, who brought it to the council were going for a low-cost model, you could look at a staff member holding a camera,” said Cllr Looney.
“At council meetings are issues of importance to neighbourhoods, we also have had nuanced debates on things like property tax, but people have to find out by reading posts from a prolific party councillor. Is the debate so bad that we can’t show this – why are we so afraid?”
Sinn Féin Councillor Cathal King, who voted against the motion, said it was a simple case of “not enough value for money” and a lack of interest for webcasting from residents.
“We’re going to have a difficult Budget coming up, and we’re talking about 100k with no real evidence that it is wanted by the public,” said Cllr King.
“There is so much more that we need money for, CCTV at playgrounds, football pitches, there was no money to fix the CCTV at McUlliam playground.
“The chamber is open to residents in the public gallery, this week we had people in for the Dodder Greenway and houses in Clondalkin. During the recent Participation Budget in Lucan, not one resident asked for webcasting. If residents do ask for it, we are happy to look at it again, but I’m not prepared to stand over that cost at this time.”
Fine Gael Councillor Vicki Casserly, who voted against webcasting, felt the cost involved would be an “unnecessary splurge and not good use of public funds at a time when so much more could be done.”
Cllrs who voted for webcasting included Cllrs Timmons, Gogarty, O’Toole, O’Connell, Looney, McMahon, Fanning, Johansson, and Genockey.
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