Are we getting a new Lord Mayor tonight ?

[miahp]

If they can't agree on one, I'm prepared to go forward as a compromise candidate. I've often been told that I tick all the right boxes.

[hungry]

Of course we are of course it is the usual pact, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the so called left the Labour Party more jobs for the boys profit before people.

[jd26]

I believe, it'll be Dara Murphy of Fine Gael.

There was a serious look taken at leaving FF out of the pact this time round. The problem was that FG and Labour only had 15 votes, one short of a majority. Kieran McCarthy, the new Independent in the SE ward was willing to play ball, but that still only left a majority of one.

The problem with that is that it leaves them very vulnerable to a single AWOL councillor when it comes to getting the budget passed. And with no budget, there is no council and no mayor.

Unfortunately, the smaller left parties (SF, SP, WP & Chris O'Leary) have no real interest in running the city and will oppose the budget as a matter of course; there are more votes in opposing decisions than there are in making them. At the same time Dave McCarthy and Mick Finn are FFers in sheep's clothing and will do what the party does.

It was decided there was too much risk to the city in having FF opposing too. If they'd had one more seat they might have risked it. And Joe O'Callaghan (FG) only missed out by about 50 votes in NW, while Paddy Brown (Lab) wasn't too far back in NC. Not too many more votes and it could all have been very different.

[Cyberjoe]

They impose the budget (a) because it requires the double taxation of PAYE workers in the form of refuse charges, and (b) because the budget is inadequate to run a city of this size. And how different would a FG / Lab pact than a FF/FG/Lab pact, just as undemocratic.

The people have spoken.

[jd26]

Huh?

You think the Council shouldn't raise money because it's double-taxation, but then complain that the budget is inadequate.

What would you do? Have more money transferred in from central government? But where would that come from? Higher income tax?

That's the kind of thinking I'm talking about from the minor parties. They oppose the budget, but they have no plans for how they would balance it.

And what happens if the budget can't be passed? The city manager gets to run the city with no democratic chamber. I'm sure that would provide ample opportunity for Mick Barry and Jonathan O'Brien to grandstand, but really what good would it do the city?

But the problems of a party that always opposes, we're seeing at national level at the moment. Given a bit of power, their support collapses.

As for how democratic is it?

FG + Lab + FF + K McCarthy = 22 councillors.

That's a bit more democratic than having the other nine running it.

[CHANCE]

I believe, it'll be Dara Murphy of Fine Gael.

Jaysus that's two lord mayors from a certain part of the city in a few years.

[Ageless (H)]

i believe that chris o leary was proposed for lord major by the lefty group formed and mick finn deputy lord mayor ,also mick finn was asked to rejoin fianna fail ,and told them where to go .How can gilmore call for general election and kenny while there in a pact for with fianna fail in the city council .There a joke

[czar]

some info on last night is here: www.corkpolitics.ie

[jd26]

National leaders won't get involved in local pacts.

In Boyle, in Roscommon, Fine Gael are sharing power with Sinn Fein. And yet look at the fuss there's been at a national level on that.

To be honest, as much as I'd have like to have seen FF excluded, I believe it's to the credit of Fine Gael and Labour that they've put the needs of the city above their immediate political agendas. The smaller groups will get plenty of publicity by opposing everything, calling for more spending but less revenue; that's the privilege of those not exercising power. But given the choice between collapsing the council with consequent direct rule by the minister for the environment/city manager and keeping the council in place representing those who elected it, Fine Gael and Labour made the right decision.

Incidentally, for all the outrage coming from the parties of the left, FF got 1,000 more votes than SF, SP and WP combined.

[leesider]

A directly elected mayor is the way to go and hopefully a few years down the line we will have that. Actually in a piece in the Sunday Times they were on a bout how Ireland will look in 2035 and they said there would be 2 city states within the country........there 's where the future lies! More power over our own destiny!

[jd26]

I agree with a directly elected mayor.

But it shouldn't be just the current honorary position, there should be a lot of the executive functions of the city manager done by the elected mayor too.

Also, the area covered should be much greater. Not just the boundary extension currently sought by the council, but also all the immediate satellite towns. Certainly, Ballincollig, Blarney, Glanmire, Passage and Carrigaline should be in. Cobh, Carrigtwohill and Midleton are probably too much of a push though.

[SirCharles]

Hi, What does a Lord Mayor do?

[Saucyjack]

Hi, What does a Lord Mayor do?

Gets paid a small fortune for Lording it over the rest of us for a year.

A pointless figurehead but good for giving half-days at school

[Actin The Sham]

I agree with a directly elected mayor.

But it shouldn't be just the current honorary position, there should be a lot of the executive functions of the city manager done by the elected mayor too.

Also, the area covered should be much greater. Not just the boundary extension currently sought by the council, but also all the immediate satellite towns. Certainly, Ballincollig, Blarney, Glanmire, Passage and Carrigaline should be in. Cobh, Carrigtwohill and Midleton are probably too much of a push though.

Blarney, Glanmire, and Carrigaline should not be in the city area. They are full of mucksavage bogtrotting spudgobbling knuckledraggers and people from deprived parts of the city who couldn't afford houses in togher/ballyphehane (ballincollig) mahon/grange (carrigaline) gurrane/knocknaheeny (blarney) and mayfield/the glen (glanmire).

We managed to build new slums for them to go and live in, we don't want them back in now, it took us long enough to get rid of them. Passage should be carpet bombed.

:shock:

[hungry]

Watch all the shites that where wearing Council Robes on the Echo the other night will be the ones that will vote to charge us for using water and put tax on our houses. All the Fine Gael, Labour, and Fianna Fail those who formed the pact. Looked like Cats that got the cream.

[scoondle]

The people of Cork city have spoken and have put this grand coalition back in again. We must accept that the city electorate are happy about how this long term pact is working out.
Those of you opposed to it only have your vote to change this. It must be accepted as the people's choice. The "Rebel" city wants the status quo. Good luck to ye.

[leesider]

I agree with a directly elected mayor.

But it shouldn't be just the current honorary position, there should be a lot of the executive functions of the city manager done by the elected mayor too.

Also, the area covered should be much greater. Not just the boundary extension currently sought by the council, but also all the immediate satellite towns. Certainly, Ballincollig, Blarney, Glanmire, Passage and Carrigaline should be in. Cobh, Carrigtwohill and Midleton are probably too much of a push though.

I agree totally, especially about the lord mayor, what is he/she for when it is the city manager that does most of the work! but I think it should go a step further and that the city council should have more powers and control over its own taxes than it does.....as in proper decentralisation ie decision making.

[hiawatha]

Watch all the shites that where wearing Council Robes on the Echo the other night will be the ones that will vote to charge us for using water and put tax on our houses. All the Fine Gael, Labour, and Fianna Fail those who formed the pact. Looked like Cats that got the cream.

Sounds like two sound policies to me.