Cork City Council 2009 – Changes Since 2004
A brief assessment of the changes in Cork City Council since the previous local election in 2004. 31 councillors represent a city in which according to the 2009 Register of Electors (pdf) almost 82,000 people are registered to vote. The city is divided into six wards with the number of councillors representing each ward varying between 5 and 6 (soon to be wards of between 4 and 7 after boundary alterations.)
The current breakdown of the city council by party membership is as follows:
Fianna Fáil – 10
Fine Gael – 8
Labour – 6
Non Party – 4
Sinn Féin – 2
Socialist Party – 1
Overall this has reprsented a slight altertation in numbers since the 2004 election. Fianna Fáil has decreased by one through the resignation of David McCarthy in North West to run as an Independent candidate in the 2007 General Election. Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin remain at the same level however during the intervening period Sinn Féin gained one councillor with the adoption of Fiona Kerins in South Central upon the death of Independent Con O’Connell in 2007 but Cllr. Annette Spillane resigned her membership of Sinn Féin in 2009 to become an Independent. Mairin Quill was elected as a Progressive Democrat councillor and opted not to join any other party since the P.D.’s disbandment as she is retiring at this election, Chris O’Leary resigned his membership of the Green Party in January of this year over opposition to the Green’s role in Government and has remained an Independent.
A number of other individuals have joined the council since the 2004 election, mainly due to dual mandate rules which prohibit dual membership of a local authority and the Oireachtas or European Parliament.
South West
John Buttimer (FG) replaced his brother Jerry Buttimer upon election to Seanad Eireann in July 2007.
South Central
As mentioned above Fiona Kerins was adopted as a member upon the death of Con O’Connell.
Ciaran Lynch T.D. (Lab) was replaced upon his election by Lorraine Kingston.
South East
Deirdre Clune T.D. (FG) was replaced upon her election by Laura McGonigle.
North West
Colm Burke M.E.P. (FG) earned his seat at the European Parliament in his position as official replacment for Simon Coveney T.D. who resigned his European seat upon election to the Dáil, was himself replaced by Joe O’Callaghan – an individual with an interesting history having both won and lost a seat as a Labour candidate in the North Central ward (1991 & 1999) before again losing in the NC ward in 2004 as a Fine Gael candidate.
North Central
Gary O’Flynn (FF) was replaced by Kenneth O’Flynn in December 2008.
North East
No changes in personnel since 2004.
Therefore it is clear that a constant ebb and flow of party membership and personnel exists within local government, each can be explained by the relevant local circumanstances but it certainly makes surveying the business of the council that little bit more interesting.
Update: A full breakdown of all current members of Cork City Council along with their contact details and party affiliation can be found on the Cork City Council website.
Tags: Cork, Cork City Council, Local Politics, Political Parties
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