A Fianna Fáil councillor has challenged an assertion by the Mayor of Galway that her decision to vote against Senator David Norris addressing the city council was 'a misunderstanding'.
Michael Crowe said Hildegarde Naughton had all the relevant correspondence in relation to the day Senator Norris wanted to address the council as part of his presidential campaign.
He said the Fine Gael Councillor used her casting vote to 'copper fasten' the decision not to allow Mr Norris' request to speak to the chamber.
Cllr Crowe said Ms Naughton was trying to be all things to all people by insisting that the Senator should be allowed to speak, and at the same time indicating that she would not be supporting him.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Ms Naughton said on reflection she should have given her casting vote as Mayor of Galway to allow Mr Norris to address the council.
She described her decision as an 'error of judgement'.
Cllr Crowe said it was highly unlikely that the council decision would be overturned.
He said it was his understanding that it would take at least six months before a new motion could be dealt with.
Presidency labelled an ‘expensive bauble’
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald has described the office of the Presidency as an ‘expensive bauble’ during an Oireachtas Committee hearing on excehquer allocations.
Ms Mcdonald told the select committee on public expenditure and reform noted that salaries, wages and allowances showed a marked increase in each item .
She highlighed incidental expenses totalling €170,000 - an increase of €68,000 which she described as astonishing.
She also noted that the bill for postal and telecommunication services were €127,000, up 51%.
She said she was mindful of the fact we were coming into a time when the Aras would be filled by a new person in office - but said the public perception would be that the presidency was an expensive bauble, adding that looking at these figures, it was plain to see why.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin defended the record of the office of the President, saying that she had undertaken extraordinary work in the state interset.
He pointed out that a number of unprecedented State visits had necessitated additional expenditure.
