Dunphy 'silenced' on his motion to scrap allowance
COUNCILLOR DISAPPOINTED AS HIS MOTION FAILS TO BE SECONDED
A MOTION seeking to abandon the practice of awarding a fixed allowance to a Cathaoirleach was defeated at last Tuesday's sitting of New Ross Town Council after it failed to be seconded.
Cllr. Bobby Dunphy, who put forward the motion, said that instead of awarding a fixed allowance, which is currently ¤ 8,000, the Chair would be reimbursed necessary expenses on a vouched system.
He proposed that the system should commence with the election of the next Cathaoirleach and will extend to include the Leas Cathaoirleach, who is currently excluded from receiving any allowance.
'The failure to get a seconder for my motion, while not unexpected, was still disappointing on two levels. The failure in securing a seconder meant that I could not argue for the motion. In a single stroke, I was silenced by my fellow councillors. I could not advise the members of what I intended would replace the current system. I could not argue that I did not intend for any chairperson to be out of pocket or to be prevented from acquiring the position,' said Cllr. Dunphy in the wake of the meeting.
'All I was proposing was a system that would give greater openness and transparency. The only reason for opposing that would be that you did not want openness and transparency. For example, while the ¤ 8,000 is intended to cover anticipated expenses, in reality any expenses incurred can be and are claimed separately. The ¤ 8,000 is, in effect pocketed as a tax free salary. There is no scrutiny, no value for money analysis... Because it is public money we Councillors have a duty to oversee the proper disbursement of this money,' he explained.
One way the Labour Councillor felt of making the process more open was to introduce a scheme of reimbursement of vouched expenses only or that the Council would have a credit card for sole use by the Cathaoirleach.
'This would have the effect of immediately meeting any expense and the monthly statement would be an accurate and verifiable record of the expenses,' he explained. Cllr. Dunphy argued that this motion was no way intended to place the role of the Cathaoirleach out of the reach of any elected members regardless of their ' financial standing'.
'Some years ago, when I declined to accept the Chairmanship one Councillor expressed utter incredulity that I would forego the honour and the prestige and the chance for my kids and their kids to see my name forever inscribed on the Roll of Chairpersons on the wall of the Council chamber. I wonder now, which is seen to be more important the honour or the ¤ 8,000 that goes with the job,' he said.
'This for me is even more disappointing, I have no doubt that had I made this proposal during the term of the last Council some member on the left –either Ingrid O'Brien or John Dwyer would have seconded the motion. Sadly, Ingrid lost her seat and that left rump on the Council seems to have all but disappeared,' he added.
- Elaine FURLONG
