WINSTON Churchill once said that the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
According to councillors at this week’s Metropolitan District meeting in Merchants Quay, collective decision making is now a thing of the past anyway. Democracy, they claim, has been “sidestepped” and replaced by a vacuum within their new administration, where information is power and they have very little of either.
Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely proposed a motion at Monday’s Metropolitan District meeting that the Council provide an update on the Mary Street Garda Station site and any other projects or schemes that have been “delayed” due to reviews by Mayor John Moran.
Another week another challenge to the Mayor and another mention of seeking legal advice along with it. The level of unrest almost appeared Shakesperean.
Cllr Kiely pointed out to Council members that her motion was submitted before they got an update from the Mayor on the former Mary Street Garda Station – which councillors previously approved the sale of in May 2023 following a million-euro commitment from a developer for a new office complex.
“You would be forgiven if you were to think someone was trying to get out ahead of this motion,” she opined, declaring that “we need to know if decisions made in the term of the last Council are being reversed by the new administration”.
The Mary Street Garda Station site, Kiely pointed out, went to market and a process was followed like any disposal.
Now, it would seem, the site has been withdrawn from sale, following an agreement with the buyer – causing Cllr Kiely to ask “do we as a local authority or us as councillors have any exposure legally as a result of this property being withdrawn?”
“Has there been any compensation given to the purchaser as a result of getting agreement?
“What other projects are being reconsidered or amended since the new administration has taken over?” she asked.
Ultimately, she wanted to know “what else is or has been undone” of the previous Council’s work, declaring that democracy in the chamber had been “sidestepped”.
According to the response from Mayor Moran to Cllr Kiely’s motion, the sale of Mary Street Garda Station was pulled on the basis of receiving €200,000 under THRIVE (The Town Centre Heritage Revival Scheme).
As far as Cllr Daniel Butler (FG) was concerned, it was absolutely “bananas” that a democratic decision made by councillors could be changed.
“Whether we agree with decisions made in this chamber or not, we have to call into question that process of undermining a democratic decision. I think this is a bigger problem than we realise. It’s madness,” he insisted.
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan also took the opportunity to raise concerns about the Mayor stalling the development of 78 houses in Pineview Gardens Moyross.
Moyross community leaders recently accused Mayor Moran of “robbing” the future and safety of children by intervening in the plan and insisting that it was homes that were needed and not sandcastles.
“We’ve got really good plans for Moyross which we have spent the last five years really trying to work on. The community really want this housing development and now it has been stalled, and I couldn’t communicate to them why because I don’t know why it’s been stalled,” Cllr O’Donovan commented.
Oh, well, you know what they say don’t you? Secrecy begets tyranny.
