LIMERICK’s 40 newly elected local representatives and the nation’s first ever directly-elected Mayor (DEM) had their first proper look at each other this past week as they got down to official business.
On what was a day of firsts for local government in Limerick, the inaugural annual meeting of the new look Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) saw councillors gathered on Friday last (June 21) for their first formal session in the Dooradoyle council chamber.
It was also the first meeting to be attended by Ireland’s first ever DEM, Mayor of Limerick John Moran, whose inauguration ceremony took place earlier in the day at St Mary’s Cathedral.
The first order of business was to select a Príomh Chomhairleoir – a new title for the chairperson, created under the directly-elected mayor legislation.
25-year-old Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney was elected the Príomh Chomhairleoir after being proposed by his party leader on the Council, Cllr John Sheahan, and the leader of the Fianna Fail party, Cllr Michael Collins.
Cllr McSweeney said it was an honour to be selected by his colleagues and spoke of the need for a cohesive council.
”The cornerstone for our success will be our ability to work together as a cohesive team, and engage in constructive dialogue,” the Patrickswell man declared.
“This council is now made up of 41 members from different backgrounds with varied life experiences. As Príomh Comhairleoir, I am committed to working with each and every one of you to achieve a common goal, a thriving Limerick.
“It is also important that we hold the executive and our directly-elected Mayor to account in a fair and transparent manner,” he added.
Proposing Cllr McSweeney for the role, Fine Gael councillor John Sheahan described him as a young man who hit the road running after being first elected to LCCC in 2019.
”His vote has proved he is an exceptional politician and we believe he will make an exceptional job as Príomh Comhairleoir, which is not going to be an easy job. We have a new set up and it needs a lot of thinking out and process, so I am delighted and confident that Dan McSweeney will do that job for us,” Cllr Sheahan insisted.
Cllr Noreen Stokes (FG), who was elected to the council for the first time in the Cappamore-Kilmallock electoral area, was selected as Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir.
10 of the 4O councillors elected to LCCC were elected for the first time at the recent local elections. 12 councillors (30 per cent) are female, a new high for gender representation on the local authority.
