This article is from page 16 of the 2013-06-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE LABOUR party’s Seamus Ryan will be allowed to serve as a Clare County Councillor if elected – provided that he doesn’t get a promotion.
The North Clare man, who works as a library assistant for Clare County Council, has already stated his intention to run for the party in a Clare constituency next year.
However, according to legislation covering local government, an employee of a local authority is not allowed to serve as a county councillor – once they have achieved a certain position within the council.
Clare County Council confirmed yesterday that since 2004 any local authority employees whose maximum remuneration does not exceed the maximum remuneration for the post of Clerical Officer may become members of a local authority.
This mean that under his current level of seniority – Mr Ryan would be eligible to serve as a county councillor for the next seven years – unless he gets an unexpected promotion.
“Under the Local Government Act 2001 (Statutory Instrument 216, 2004) a person running for the County Coun- cil cannot earn more than the maximum salary of a Clerical Officer. Fortunately, I am at least seven or eight years from the top of the scale so there shouldn’t be a problem with going forward for election,” he said.
Ryan was last year elected onto the nation executive of the Labour Party, has already stated his intention to run in next years local elections – most likely in Ennis or in the new enlarged West Clare area.