The power of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee has been further diluted by the resignation of two more TDs.
That’s the view of Fianna Fáil city councillor Peter Keane who, along with other JPC members, expressed disappointment this week in relation to the resignation of Galway West TDs, Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fáil ) and Brian Walsh (Independent ). Letters of resignation from the two Dáil deputies were read out at the JPC meeting on Monday.
In his letter of resignation Deputy Ó Cuív said: “Due to work commitments I am finding it impossible to regularly attend the Joint Policing Committee meetings and therefore wish to tender my resignation as I feel it is inappropriate to be on the committee that I do not attend regularly.”
Similarly, Independent Deputy Walsh said in his letter of resignation: “Due to conflicting work commitments, I am finding it increasingly difficult to attend meetings of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee. I therefore feel that is it is appropriate to resign my membership of the committee with immediate effect.”
Cllr Keane told the meeting: “The resignations dilute the power of the JPC to liase with the Oireachtas. I am disappointed. Deputies Ó Cuív and Walsh are Oireachtas members familiar with national legislation, which is why they are on the committee. On top of the resignation of Deputy Noel Grealish (Independent ), two more have resigned.” Cllr Keane then commended Fine Gael Deputy Sean Kyne for “remaining with us”.
“I am delighted to see Deputy Kyne here who along with Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, regularly attends JPC meetings. The JPC meetings were organised to be held on Mondays to assist the members of the Oireachtas and the Seanad. It is important as we can get information from them. Now, we will have to make representations to them,” said Independent city councillor Terry O’Flaherty.
