In their first meeting on Monday, after the summer break, the city’s representatives briefly discussed the city’s most oaty issue in what the Galway Advertiser calculates is the 15th plenary meeting in a row where the breakfast ingredient has been mentioned.
Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind ) told colleagues that the city’s porridge problem was raised in a recent Corporate Policy Group (CPG ) meeting over the summer, but since then, the situation has deteriorated.
“Especially along Merchants Road, it’s worse than ever. The whole city is ruined by the amount of porridge on the streets, with big lumps of porridge every five or six yards,” he contended.
Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe, in her first contribution as a non-party councillor since leaving the Social Democrats in July, expressed anger at the topic being raised under an agenda item asking councillors to note the CPG meeting.
“I’m disgusted porridge is being talked about here when we were asked not to bring it up. I’m disgusted, as it is causing significant problems for the person concerned,” she said.
“I don’t see porridge as sensitive,” responded Councillor Peter Keane (FF ). “A hundred thousand people a day, including tourists, are being affected by the behaviour of one person. The individual involved is acting with impunity, affecting others, and in a democracy: that’s not how things work,” he said.
Chairing the meeting, Mayor Mike Cubbard (Ind ) pleaded with councillors to avoid the topics of porridge and parking, after several members online and in the chamber revealed they had received numerous representations from constituents over the summer on the city’s parking machines.
“It’s like groundhog day. We’re talking about parking and porridge again! From a public viewpoint, we are making ourselves look incompetent,” he complained.
In response to councillors’ questions, Patrick Greene, Director of Services for Operational Development at the local authority, said his colleagues were working on the issue.
“We are taking a collaborative approach. There are sensitivities, and we need more time. There is clear engagement across departments, and with other agencies, but I don’t want to get in to it” he said. “We are going around and clearing up the porridge when we find it,” he added.
