Tête-à-tête over expenses in Ballina

Ciara Galvin

An invitation to France sparked heated words between two councillors at the monthly Ballina Municipal District meeting on Wednesday last.
Delegates from the French town Athis Mons had invited representatives of the Ballina Municipal District to attend the town’s festival in November.
Senior Architect with Mayo County Council Kevin Keegan said the link between the two towns was ‘historic’ and that it was important that representatives from the district attend the festival.
“We made some good links with the French Embassy during the French Ballina Festival, and they have offered financial assistance,” said Mr Keegan.
However, Independent councillor Seamus Weir informed the meeting that he would be reluctant to ‘go anywhere’ after he was ‘ridiculed’ by members of the public and the media in 2009 for travelling during his year as Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council the previous year.
“As a chairperson I went abroad and I got ridiculed by media, the people … The perception isn’t great out there. I went through it, and I was very lucky to be elected after a trip,” said Cllr Weir.  
Responding to Cllr Weir’s comments, Cathaoirleach of the district Cllr Gerry Ginty said that when he had previously raised concerns over expenses, he was referring to councillors attending city conferences and the expenses submitted for same.
“Wherever I have gone as part of the council I have paid my own way. It cost the town council absolutely nothing. It was the abuse of the system that brought it into disrepute,” said Cllr Ginty.
Cllr Weir said that in the run up to the 2009 local elections, Cllr Ginty had detailed Cllr Weir’s expenses as part of his campaign literature. “It was my expenses. I was chairperson the year before, and you didn’t explain that. That was defaming me,” he said.
“It was a reproduction of Mayo County Council expenses there was nothing defamatory about it,” retorted Cllr Ginty.
The discussion then returned to the trip to Athis Mons. Despite general consensus that representatives should attend the November festival.
“People might see it as a cost but if you don’t spend you don’t get,” said Fine Gael councillor John O’Hara.
Fellow Fine Gael councillor Neil Cruise described the invitation as a ‘huge opportunity’ to forge links with the French people.
Director of Services Paul Benson said there is ‘cynicism’ in relation to councillors travelling abroad, but he assured those gathered that council staff do not put trips on council agendas unnecessarily.
Councillors were in agreement that the cathaoirleach of the district, Cllr Gerry Ginty, should attend the festival. Whether another person will also attend the festival, possibly a member of the French Ballina organising committee, has yet to be decided.