Workers Party councillor Ted Tynan has a backroom deal has been made between the three parties that control the Mayoral Pact on Cork City Council to share the Freedom of the City over the next four years. The deal has been done in order to push through tomorrow night’s proposal to make the award to former Fine Gael deputy Peter Barry.
Fine Gael and Labour have joined forces with the main government party Fianna Fáil to secure the award for Mr. Barry, a former Tánaiste and member of a coalition government which was in power when thousands of jobs were lost in Cork including Fords, Dunlops and Verolme Cork Dockyard. The latter closed when the government gave a contract for replacement naval patrol vessels to a non-EU member state.
Cllr. Tynan said that once again the controlling clique on the city council had made a secret deal to the benefit of their own parties and to the detriment of democracy and at considerable cost at a time when the council is cutting back on important services and staff.
The Workers Party councillor said that the arrangement made a mockery of the talk of change coming from the alternative government-in-waiting being offered by Fine Gael and Labour. “In Dáil Éireann”, he said, “The main opposition parties give the impression they are at war with Fianna Fáil, but in Cork City Hall they are inseparable allies in order to share the extravagant spoils of office”.
“Just over a week ago”, said Cllr. Tynan, “we heard the Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore talk about fundamental change in Irish politics and “liberating the country from insiders who have squandered our prosperity’ – he also offered a ‘clear break with the political past’”. I wonder is Mr. Gilmore aware that of the insider deals being made by his own councillors in Cork City Hall?”, asked the Workers Party councillor.
“Are we really to believe that a government composed of Fine Gael and Labour would be any different to one led by Fianna Fáil when all three parties can merrily coalesce to share out the spoils of office in City Hall?”, he queried
About Me
- Ted Tynan, Workers Party
- Cork, Ireland
- Councillor Ted Tynan is one of the best known local community activists and campaigners in the North East area of Cork City. He has been deeply involved in countless local campaigns for the rights of ordinary people and, as a socialist, he believes that workers and their families must come before private profit. Ted has been active on a large number of local issues in Mayfield and the wider North East ward area and is a former Chairman of Mayfield East Community Association. If you have any issues you would like to discuss with Cllr. Tynan or need assistance in areas such as housing, maintenance, social welfare, etc or have concerns about any local issue please contact Ted Tynan at (086) 190 8281 (mobile) or e-mail him: tedtynan@gmail.com
