Councillor makes a ’holy show’ of himself

FINE Gael councillor Adam Teskey was accused of making a "holy show" of himself in the Council chamber and was urged to "cop on".

FINE Gael councillor Adam Teskey was accused of making a “holy show” of himself in the Council chamber and was urged to “cop on”.

The recent full meeting of Limerick Council had to be adjourned at one point as Cllr Teskey repeatedly disrupted Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Tom Ruddle (FG), from chairing proceedings.

The Rathkeale representative was disgruntled that his motion for a variation on the Limerick Development Plan would not be heard in the chamber on the day. Instead it had been referred to the Economic Development, Enterprise, Tourism, and Planning Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) and Climate Action, Biodiversity and Environment SPC.

Cllr Teskey was not at all impressed, asking: “Who took the decision here to supposedly defer this motion?”

“I should be able to read it out without it having to go through the process of being referred to the SPC. I’m asking who is denying me that?” the Fine Gael man asked.

The Príomh Chomhairleoir asked Cllr Teskey if he would like to read out his motion.

“I wouldn’t advise you to play that game with me now at all. I’m asking a question on behalf of the electorate that I represent. Who is denying me the right to bring up a motion here today?” Cllr Teskey hit back.

Cllr Ruddle explained that the motion was referred to the SPC at the leaders meeting and “that was it”.

Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Collins claimed this was incorrect.

“Party leaders doen’t have any statutory role in making a decision, it was the CPG ( Corporate Policy Group ) ,” Cllr Collins insisted.

Cllr Ruddle again gave Cllr Teskey an opportunity to read out his motion at the full meeting.

“I want to get clarity because it has been alleged that it was the CPG. I attended a CPG meeting where it wasn’t brought up and it was alleged that it was party leaders, and we’ve a party leader here saying it wasn’t,” Cllr Teskey continued.

Council Deputy Director General, Joe Delaney, explained that the executive make decisions on whether motions are policy matters or operational matters or whether they’re calling on a minister for action.

“The meetings administration group, which is corporate services, make decisions around that. We saw it as a policy matter and put it into the list when we bring in the agenda to the party leaders. In order to ensure an efficient meeting, we make decisions to put things for SPC, and that’s what we did in this case,” he informed Cllr Teskey.

When he interrupted the meeting again, Cllr Teskey was ruled out of order by the Príomh Chomhairleoir. Again, his blood boiled.

“I’m after coming in here when I should be out running a business. I do not believe what I’m proposing today is strictly a policy matter. I think we’re setting a dangerous precedent. I think that’s scary and alarming for any of us around this Council chamber to hear that,” he claimed.

Cllr Ruddle adjourned the meeting to deal with the issue after Cllr Teskey still refused to read out his motion.

“You’re trying to chair the meeting now. You couldn’t chair the meeting. I’ll chair the meeting now in a minute,” Cllr Teskey roared.

When the meeting restarted, Independent councillor Ursula Gavan stepped in to steal Cllr Teskey’s thunder, saying:

“Can we just be mindful of the tone and language, it’s very disrespectful, Cllr Teskey. I too had a motion referred to an SPC and you would have received prior notice of that yourself before this meeting and could have dealt with it rather than bringing it here and making a holy show of yourself. A bit of cop on now.”