Cllrs clash over presidential election selection process and procedures
Confusion and frustration dominated Meath County Council’s October meeting as councillors reflected on the recent controversial vote to endorse a candidate for the upcoming presidential election, a vote that ultimately failed.
Navan Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín led the criticism, saying the process was mishandled from the start. She cited poor communication, unclear procedures, and technical failings during the hybrid meeting, which saw entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan fall just short of the required support to secure the Council’s nomination.
“As you recall, the meeting had to be suspended at one stage to add clarity to the many questions submitted by various councillors,” said Cllr Tóibín. “But even after the suspension, the answers were not appropriate to the questions raised. Further confusion arose when the third and final vote was taken.”
Tóibín added that although 16 or 17 aspirants were due to make presentations, only seven ended up doing so, contributing further to the sense of disorganisation.
“This is a very serious matter,” she added. “Presidential endorsement votes only come around every seven or even fourteen years. A dry run or mock vote wouldn’t have gone amiss.”
Aontú Trim Cllr Dave Boyne, who said the process left him confused and led to him abstaining from the final vote.
“I myself was confused at the whole situation, and that’s why I abstained,” he said. “In terms of technical issues, I’d like this rule about having the camera on to be scrapped.”
Cllr Boyne said that his objection was based on practical concerns rather than principle. He said video feeds often eat up bandwidth and can lead to poor connectivity or dropped calls. Speaking afterwards he added that effective teleconferencing has existed since the 1990s without the need for cameras, and insisted he remains fully committed to participating in council business regardless of format.
However, Ratoath Independent Cllr Nick Killian disagreed strongly, arguing that councillors attending remotely must remain visible and accountable.
“I don’t agree with Cllr Boyne. All cameras should remain on. If you’re online, you should stay online. We meet once a month, it’s an important day in our lives as councillors.
“The screen was a mess the last day. You couldn’t tell who was on or off. It wasn’t fair from the point of view of presentations.”
Kells Sinn Féin Cllr Michael Gallagher said the only way to avoid further issues would be to hold all future votes of this significance in person.
“I would suggest the next time it should be all done in person, as the other way only leads to confusion.”
Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe acknowledged the confusion in the room during the vote but defended the decision to insist on cameras being switched on during virtual participation.
“We adjourned the meeting for a specific purpose and recognised there was confusion in the room. We’re going to insist on having cameras on because, as we move into discussions on the County Development Plan, we’ll be getting into very serious votes with serious implications for the county.”
The Council’s Cathaoirleach Wayne Harding echoed the need for greater discipline and transparency during hybrid meetings.
“There’s an onus on us as councillors. If we’re Zooming into a meeting, we need to hear and see clearly what’s going on. Cameras going on and off just isn’t good enough.”
Adjournment was needed to clarify the process
The meeting to consider whether Meath County Council would nominate a presidential candidate took place on Monday, 22nd September where a lengthy list of 17 candidates were looking for the local authority's backing to get on the ballot paper.
It was a hybrid meeting with 23 councillors attending in person, 13 via zoom, while four sent apologies.
Just seven of the 17 eligible candidates ultimately made their pitch with the most high profile of those being businessman Gareth Sheridan who had secured the backing of two councils but needed two more.
Others who came in to the chamber to make their presentation included Ratoath businesswoman and CEO of Wool in School, Lorna McCormack, Charlie Keddy and Charlotte Keenan, while Lucy-Anne O'Leary and Gearoid Duffy presented via zoom. Persistent issues with Sarah Louise Mulligan's camera meant she did not get to make her pitch.
Gareth Sheridan came within a whisker of gaining the nomination but lost out by a margin of just one and by the end of the day it was clear, his presidential bid was over.
During the meeting there was confusion at times, not helped by the fact that there were three separate votes taken during the two and a half hour session.
At one point the meeting was adjourned for five minutes to clarify the process.
In the end, the councillors who voted to nominate Sheridan were independent councillors Joe Bonner, Francis Deane, Brian Fitzgerald, David Gilroy, Geraldine Keogan, Nick Killian, Alan Lawes, Carol Lennon and Amanda Smith as well as Sinn Fein councillors Peter Caffrey and Michael Gallagher, Aontú councillor Emer Tóibín and Fianna Fáil's Paul O'Rourke.
Voting against him were Fine Gael councillors Yemi Adenuga, Eugene Cassidy, John Duffy, Joe Fox, Suzanne Jamal, Maria Murphy, Gerry O'Connor, Alan Tobin and Sharon Tolan as well as Fianna Fáil councillors Sean Drew, Padraig Fitzsimons, Wayne Harding, Conor Tormey and independent Yvonne Everard.
Those who abstained were: Sinn Féin councillors Fionnan Blake, Eddie Fennessy, Helen Meyer, and Maria White, as well as Aontú's Dave Boyne.
Councillors absent for the vote included: Mike Bray (FF), Padraig Coffey (FF), Noel French (IND), Stephen McKee (FF), Paddy Meade (FG), Ronan Moore (SD), Caroline O'Reilly (FF), Sarah Reilly (FG).