Mayo Fianna Fáil whip says local democracy is ‘completely on the floor’

THE most senior Fianna Fáil politician on Mayo County Council has said that local democracy in Ireland is ‘completely on the floor’. 

Echoing comments from his Fine Gael counterpart, Cllr Damien Ryan said that the diminishment of powers of local authorities had ‘gone beyond crazy’. 

The Fianna Fáil whip called on his own party councillors and Fine Gael councillors to make a submission to the programme for government calling for enhanced powers for local authorities. 

The Ballinrobe-based representative said that the ‘best and brightest will fly the council chambers around the country’ if the erosion of local authorities’ powers continued. 

Cllr Ryan made his comments after Fine Gael’s Mayo County Council whip, Cllr Peter Flynn, said that powers had been taken away from the council through the establishment of state bodies such as Irish Uisce Éireann

“If we don’t correct this, what’s going to end up happening is the whole thing is going to descend into anarchy,” he added. 

“I think it’s important that there’s a document that’s put together, that’s substantial, that gives every one of our councillors power and equally gives them responsibility, and if they have to be penalised for not making proper decisions, let’s put that in as well,” said Cllr Ryan. 

Government formation talks are currently ongoing between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who are more than likely to re-enter coalition with the support of Independents.