Flynn and Mayo council chief clash over Storm Éowyn phone call comments

THE Chief Executive of Mayo County Council told councillors that it would not be appropriate for him or any staff member to have to provide them with details of phone calls they made.

There was tension between Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council and Westport-based councillor Peter Flynn at yesterday's (Monday) monthly meeting of the local authority after the Fine Gael representative questioned the accuracy of comments made by Mr Kelly regarding phonecalls he made in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

Cllr Flynn referenced comments made by Mr Kelly at the February meeting of the council when he stated that he had made phonecalls to TDs and Ministers following the storm. However he claimed that after the meeting two local TDs contacted him to say they never spoke to Mr Kelly.

“I don't want to start a row but can we ask the chief executive of what phone calls were made and with whom over the course of the three days [following the storm].

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“It is important because there has been a lot of confusion over the communication about it and I would like you to give information and clarity of what happened,” Cllr Flynn told the meeting.

In response, Mr Kelly said he had delivered a 'comprehensive report' in respect to the storm at the February meeting and he didn't 'intend to go further than that' .

Both Cllr Flynn and his party colleague, Cllr Donna Sheridan, expressed disappointment by the response of Mr Kelly and that the phone records would not be available.

Mr Kelly stated that it was unfair to expect him or any member of the council staff to have to do their job with people looking over their shoulder.

“We are getting into a situation where we expect the staff and the management to undertake very significant tasks in an emergency situation and have councillors come back here and ask for every phone call and every detail of what was done. It is very unfair.

“We need to be very clear about the tasks that fall for the staff of Mayo County Council and the responsibility that falls to them when responding to these situations without having to look over their shoulder as to every phone call they made or didn't make over the course of this period and if it will be investigated. We need to be realistic here as to what direction we need to make as a local authority,” he told the meeting.

In further back and forth exchanges, Cllr Flynn said he was looking for clarity regarding the chief executive's previous comments and felt it was not an unreasonable request.

“You made a comment regarding constant phone calls and we took you on your word that was correct. I spoke to two TDs who said they did not hear light nor sound from you.

“We were the ones whose telephone calls were hopping over that period. I don't know what the situation on the top table was but if you make a comment you will need to back it up.

I can tell you in three minutes who I called over a particular weekend.

“It is a simple request and that is all I ask for,” he said.

Mr Kelly told Cllr Flynn all communications don't come through him and that telecommunications failures after the storm was a problem for everyone.