This article is from page 30 of the 2008-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
ENNIS Town Council has been urged to follow the example set by famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay and aim higher.
That was the message from the February meeting of Ennis Town Council where there was support for a motion calling for the Council to seek the ISO 9000/9002 Quality As- surance Award.
Town Clerk Eddie Power explained the Council does not intended to pur- sue the ISO qualification because a rigorous system of measurement, involving 46 separate service indica- tors, 1s already in place.
Supporting the motion Green Par- ty councillor Donal O’Bearra said,
“You don’t see chefs stopping with one Michelin star, they always go for two stars. We should do the same”.
Tabling the motion, Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said that given the Council’s €12 budget it was important the Council retained the confidence of the public.
He said, “€12 million of public money is being spent this year. The ISO is widely accepted as the highest standard of performance. There have been issues like the crisis with the public water supply that have dam- aged public confidence. The time is now to address that”.
Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn agreed it was important public con- fidence was restored. He said, “I would support that motion. Percep-
tion 1s everything”.
Independent councillor Frankie Neylon also backed the motion. He said the Council should not be fear aiming for the highest possible standards.
“If we go for the ISO, then I don’t think we should be afraid of going for it. If we don’t go for it, the ques- tion will be asked, why we didn’t go for it. If its, (the Council), is as good as we Say it is, then we should go for ra
Independent councillor Taiwoo Matthew said it was important for the Council to operate to the best Standards. “We have to set standards, we have to be measured because we are providing a service. If we were in the private sector, we would have to
innovate”.
Mayor Tommy Brennan tabled a counter proposal. He said, “I think before proceeding with this, we get advice on what we would have to do and what are the costs associated with it”.
Fianna Fail councillor Joe Reidy said, “I’d have no problem with the system there at the moment. We need to find out a bit more about the ISO”.
Town Manager Tom Coughlan said the funding and impact on resource allocation would have to be consid- ered. “It would take up more time. I wouldn’t like it to be the case that staff time is being taken up with achieving measurements rather than doing the actual work”.