Mayor had to set up task force
as he could not depend on council
Dear Editor,
I want to congratulate Brian Walsh
on his election as first citizen of our
city and I am expecting a positive and
industrious 12 months under his
stewardship. When you become
mayor of your city you have a
responsibility to all citizens to portray
the city in a positive light devoid of
any political acrimony when making
public statements.
Mayor Walsh has the ability to
promote the city through commerce,
education, tourism and social
inclusion and he has made a positive
start by setting up the Eyre Square
task force. I believe it will take three
or four months to go through the
legalities but the decision of Mr
Kingston to take legal action will
prolong the agony for businesses,
commuters, and visitors.
As a former mayor I am
disappointed with this outcome. Yes, I
wanted a new enhanced square to
regenerate and create a balance
within the city as a tourist attraction.
The newly elected councillors have
disappointed not just me, but most
citizens with their divisiveness and
their lack of vision for the city.
In the last twelve months, we have
had debates over the simplest of
issues - 40 minutes on whether the
word "citizen" or "client" be used in a
document. Or one hour on the
wording of minutes, the personal
attacks, the abandonment of meetings
and so on.
To this end, the Mayor had no
option but to set up a task force and
he could not rely on the coalition of
power in City Hall, as most would be
negative towards the project and he
would have had to look outside of this
for support, hence the idea of the task
force.
This might be seen in some circles
as an undermining of the elected
members and officials, but public
opinion will have no problems with
that, and anyhow the seriousness of
the situation demands that we leave
this discussion for another day. I hope
the mayorıs initiative is successful and
I wish him well for the year.
Yours,
Val Hanley,
Former mayor of Galway city.
Galway Advertiser - 14/7/2005
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Sliocht eisiach as dialann Val Hanley
Ar son na Cúise - 10/7/2005
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