Following a 45 minute discussion, a vote took place determining that Galway City Council meetings will be held remotely for the rest of the month with a review set for February.
The start of Monday's hybrid Galway City Council Development Plan meeting featured a lengthy debate. A number of councillors attended the Galmont Hotel with others facilitated online. That is the format that has been adopted since last June.
At a procedures committee meeting last week it was agreed to discuss the issue on Monday enabling councillors to decide what method would be adopted.
Cllr Declan McDonnell stated that standing orders of the council meeting had to be suspended to allow for a debate and the 17 councillors present voted in favour.
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Cllr John Connolly said: "Since the onset of the Covid crisis in the country has the guidance to local authorities been updated? I have first hand experience of how dangerous Covid can be. Schools are maintained opened because they are seen as being important. I'm very happy with the hybrid model. I'm just wondering where the catalyst for this is coming from?"
Galway City Council chief executive Brendan McGrath responded: "There is nothing that formally prevents a meeting," he said. "However, the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage have advised that meetings shouldn't take place unless absolutely vital. The advice is to avoid face to face meetings unless absolutely essential."
Cllr Alan Cheevers spoke about the importance of the development plan meetings for the future of Galway city.
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"I'm prepared to put my own health in jeopardy, I don't believe we are going to get the same debate or the development plan meetings will be as effective if they are online. People should have the opportunity to make their own choices. For effective debate on the development plan we need the hybrid model."
Public attandance?
As the discussion continued Cllr Owen Hanley added that the general public should be accommodated. "My concern is there is no provision for the public to attend online meetings," he said. "Us as a council not making provision was a mistake. Not having the facility for the public to attend online meetings is a shame."
Cllr Mike Crowe added: "We believe under the current guidelines we are entitled to be here in person or here online," he remarked. "I can tell you now trying to conduct a development plan meeting online is going to be difficult."
Cllr Donal Lyons' motion proposing for meetings to be held online - with a review to be carried out in February - was passed.
