Democracy denied

Once again we have seen over the last week the wheeling and dealing going on behind closed doors and tonight will see the continuation of the 30 year old pact between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. This pact determines not only who will wear the Lord Mayor's chain for the next five years, but the membership and chairmanship of every City Council and nomination of members to external bodies.

Tonight instead of a democratic election at City Hall, representing the new composition of the City Council, we will see the same old anti-democratic pact in action. The outcome is a foregone conclusion and was decided not in the June 5th election but in secretive meetings between the three biggest parties with the view to excluding all others as much as possible from committees even though those "others" now make up 30% of the council.

The leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore has very publicly sought to distance his party from Fianna Fáil and present his party as a radical alternative to Brian Cowen's party yet here in Cork we will see 7 Labour Party councillors voting with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael tonight to exclude left-wing councillors from committees and ensuring the election of Fianna Fáil councillors instead. So much for a radicalised Labour Party.

As an elected councillor I will actively oppose not only this undemocratic pact, but the continuing waste of public money on junkets and extravagance at a time when the City Council has cut back on key services in order to save money.

Thank You!

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the people of the North East Ward for expressing their confidence in me by electing me to Cork City Council as a Workers' Party councillor.


There are very many people to whom I am grateful for their help and support during the local elections.

As a local councillor for the North East Ward I promise to do my very best on behalf of the people who elected me and indeed all the citizens of the area.

All my election posters were removed by the deadline on last Friday, 13th June. However if our postering team missed any of them I would appreciate if you could give me a call on (086) 1908281 and I will see to it that the offending poster is removed immediately.

Should you wish to contact me concerning any issue please do not hesitate to contact me at the numbers given below or by e-mail to tedtynan@gmail.com

Once again, sincere thanks


Councillor Ted Tynan