THE Sinn Féin party leader on the merged Limerick City and County Council, Cllr Maurice Quinlivan, has condemned what he has described as “the carve up of key positions” by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors.
Cllr Quinlivan, who topped the poll in City North in the local election, was particularly critical of the decision to appoint Fine Gael councillor Michael Hourigan to the Board of the Moyross Community Enterprise Centre.
Cllr Quinlivan pointed out that he received 352 votes from Moyross — the highest vote in the area, while Cllr Hourigan, received only seven votes.
“The Conservative Alliance of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have shown scant respect for democracy and in particular the mandate that I received from the people of Moyross.
“Is this how local democracy is going to work under this new coalition?” he asked.
Cllr Quinlivan said he has been contacted by a large number of people in the Moyross area who are very angry with this decision. He accused the Fianna Fail/ Fine Gael alliance of nailing their colours firmly to the mast by indulging in an old fashioned carve up of key positions and the expenses that often go with them.
“On day one, they have shown us that they have learned nothing from the mistakes of the past that destroyed the good name of politics in this country. They have demonstrated a contempt for the mandates given to other councillors from the electorate.
It may be a new coalition, but it’s the same old failed politics from Fianna Fáil and their new partners in Fine Gael,” he concluded.
