This article is from page 14 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
COUNCILLORS in Ennis have voted against a proposal that would call on the Government to provide mandatory equality training for all local representatives.
A majority of councillors present at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council voted 4-3 against the proposal.
In a motion, Cllr Paul O’Shea proposed that the council extend their sympathy to the family of Moses Ayanwole, a Nigerian taxi driver killed in Dublin last month.
Cllr O’Shea also called on the council to request that Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan legislate immediately for mandatory training in equality anti-discrimination and racism for all local elected representatives throughout the State.
While all councillors present offered their sympathies to Mr Ayanwole’s family, a dispute arose over Cllr O’Shea’s proposal for all members to undergo mandatory training.
Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) told the meeting that he was dissenting from the proposal. He said he had been an elected representative for all people in the Ennis area for the past 32 years and had treated all constituents with equality and fairness. “I don’t believe you need training for good manners,” he said.
In reference to controversial remarks made by the former Fine Gael Mayor of Nass, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said Darren Scully had raised issues that needed to be discussed. Supporting Cllr O’Shea’s proposal, Cllr Flynn said training would allow him to express his views in an appropriate and more inclusive fashion.
Cllr O’Shea said councillors are entitled to express their opinions “but how we express them is important”. He said he was hopeful that politicians in the “hometown of Muhammad Ali” would support his proposal.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said people in Ennis had always welcomed people to the town, adding there had been an old saying that “The stranger will flourish and the native will perish”. Cllr Neylon claimed that people in Ennis and around Clare have been discriminated against by non-nationals. He told the meeting that he had no problem working with people from the 26 different nationalities that lived in Ennis.
“I’ve met people of all nationalities that appreciate the work we have done”, he added.
Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) said counillors did not need training to be respect other people. “We just need to be respectful. You either have it or you don’t.”
Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said he opposed the pro- posal on the basis that it could present legal difficulties for the council in the future.
Cllr O’Shea challenged his fellow councillors by asking them if they were fully up to date on recent equality legislation.
“I’ve done my job to the best of my ability for 32 years and I don’t need no course,” responded Cllr Brennan.
A vote was taken on the proposal for mandatory training.
Councillors Brennan, Coote Ryan, Neylon and Guilfoyle voted against it. Councillors O’Shea, Howard and Flynn voted for it. Councillors Brian Meaney (GP) and Peter Considine (FF) were unable to attend the meeting.