‘Childish behaviour’ slammed as councillors clash over Tipperary Christmas lights
A discussion over Christmas in one area of a north Tipperary town led to heated discussions at a meeting of the Thurles Municipal District.
At the January meeting of the district, independent councillor Jim Ryan raised the issue of the Christmas lights on Baker Street in Thurles, and how they were never switched on over the Christmas period.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Ryan called for a meeting with the council to discuss why the lights were never switched on in this part of town.
"Over Baker Street in Thurles, businesspeople there were wondering if they could meet up with somebody from the council because the Christmas lights were never switched on there,” he said.
Interjecting, district Cathaoirleach and Fine Gael councillor Peggy Ryan said that the issue of the lights could have been a CRM request, referring to the customer relationship management system that local authorities use to flag issues with the heads of department.
"For the purposes we’re talking about here, with district engineers and roads, this issue should be a CRM,” Cllr Peggy Ryan said.
"If the issue is not a CRM, I’ll let you finish, but if they are CRMs, CRM them, send an email or put in a phone call,” the Cathaoirleach said.
Hitting back at the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Jim Ryan said that he would not be happy to go back and tell businesses in the street that he was not able to raise his issue at the district meeting.
"I’ll go back to the businesses and tell them the chairperson wouldn’t allow me to raise my issue at the district meeting,” the independent councillor hit out.
In response, the Fine Gael councillor said he could do that, and then she would then explain to the businesses what the CRM system is, and why Cllr Ryan wasn’t allowed to raise his issue at the meeting.
The independent councillor said that the chairperson’s behaviour was “childish” and said that businesses who are paying commercial rates should be able to have the Christmas lights turned on on their street.
The Cathaoirleach said that Cllr Ryan should know well by now the layout of district meetings, and that he knows all about standing orders.
"Excuse me, don’t speak to the Cathaoirleach like that, you should know the layout of the meeting and what standing orders are, and yet you don’t follow them,” the Cathaoirleach said.
Responding to the issue at hand, district administrator Sharon Scully said that there was an issue with the Christmas lights on Baker Street that the council couldn’t fix in time for Christmas.
"We did report that the Christmas lights on Baker Street weren’t working when you reported it to us, Cllr Ryan, but unfortunately they just weren’t able to fix the issue in time,” she said.
"I’d be happy to meet with businesses in relation to that if you want to set up a meeting with them in relation to that,” Ms Scully added.