THE PROGRESSIVE Democrats plan to install a new councillor in Dublin city next Monday just weeks before the party is to be officially disbanded.
The party’s national executive has decided that Tony Williams, a former local election candidate, should be co-opted on to the city council to fill the seat left vacant by John Kenny who was himself co-opted to replace Wendy Hederman but resigned on March 11th after little over a year on the council.
However, although the PDs have the right to nominate a candidate, there are doubts over whether the sitting councillors will allow Mr Williams to take the seat.
Anyone co-opted on to the council must be proposed and seconded by sitting councillors and their nomination must be accepted by a majority of the council. As there is no other PD on the council, Mr Williams will be proposed and seconded by Fine Gael councillors, but could be blocked by councillors from Labour, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.
If co-opted on Monday, Mr Williams will only have the opportunity to attend one more monthly council meeting before the local elections. Labour group leader Kevin Humphreys said the co-option was a “cynical move” on behalf of the PDs.
“This does not serve the interests of the city or the people in the Rathmines ward. Coming in at this late stage is cynical and not in the public interest.”
Sinn Féin group leader Christy Burke said his party would not be supporting Mr Williams’s nomination.
“No disrespect to the individual but it makes a mockery of the process.
“This is the third PD in that seat since the last local election. It’s like Lannigan’s Ball, one steps out and another steps in.
“This seat should remain vacant until it can go before the people in June.”
Fianna Fáil’s group leader Julia Carmichael said she could not see why the PDs wanted a new member on the council so soon before they disband.
Speaking yesterday Mr Williams said leaving the seat vacant would “dishonour the electorate who elected a PD councillor and dishonour the memory of Wendy Hederman”.
