This article is from page 81 of the 2008-01-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 81 JPG
SIMON MORONEY’S demand for the Munster Council to extend it’s full-time administrative capacity came to light in March 2007 in his third annual report to the provincial ruling body.
In presenting his report to delegates at the Munster Convention in Ballyr- after House in Lismore, Moroney outlined his vision for the fture that included the employment of a full- time assistant secretary.
In appealing for backing for this proposal, the Inagh man pointed to the increased pressures placed on him as secretary, which made it nec- essary for the council to come into line with both Leinster and Ulster that had put assistant secretaries in jo tleen
“The biggest single change which occurred in 2006, is the automatic presence of the provincial secretar- ies on the membership of a number of busy national committees — e.g the Competition Control Committee and National Infrastructure and Safety Committee,” he told convention.
“This is a most welcome develop- ment insofar as it enusres that the
provinces are immediately up to date on national issues and party to key decisions which can affect their own provincial activities.
“It allows for harmonisation of fixtures and uniformity in practices across provinces. However, this de- velopment does mean _ necessary absence by the provincial secretary from base for several days every year. There needs to be continuity at base and this challenge must be ad- Ore ethereb
“The staffing level in Munster, sim- ilar to Connacht is considierably less than in both Ulster and Leinster. Too much time as provincial secretary is spent on routine administrative mat- ters.
“The Council as an organisation must develop an inbuilt capacity to deal with changes — e.g. key staff changes over time, with serious disruption. In order to develop this capacity a Deputy Secretary is re- quired.
‘This person will have responsibil- ity for duties assigned to them from time to time — e.g. match arrange- ments, accounts etc., together with the management of affairs of the Council while the secretary is away
in Croke Park or on leave.
“A Deputy Secretary will also pro- vide continuity and perhaps a poten- tial successor when the erm of the secretary ends. It is prudent to plan ahead. I therefore make a specific recommendation, and seek the ap- proval from Convention to proceed immediately with its implementation on the adoption of the report, that the secretary proceed to manage the recruitment and appointment of the deputy secretary at a level consistent with similar posts in both Ulster and Leinster.
“The costs associated with the improvement will be borne by the Council and should not be out of line with that obtaining in the other councils,’ he concluded in his direct appeal to delegates.
However, delegates didn’t back his the secretary’s proposal — a move that set in motion a chain of events that have led to his resignation.