A bizarre situation has arisen between one of Ireland’s highest polling female Councillors and the Executive of her local authority .
Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín has hit out at Meath County Council executive saying that she was informed that congratulating the people of Meath and Ireland on the resounding NO NO vote to last Friday’s Referendum could not be recorded in the interests of balance. Cllr Tóibín has hit out at ”the way unelected mandarins closing down elected representatives her ” and her disbelief her comments could not be written into record saying “ This is absolutely astounding.”
At yesterday’s meeting ( 13th March) of the Navan Municipal District , I tried to acknowledge the huge numbers of people who voted an emphatic No to the proposed Family and Care amendments . That was their absolute democratic right and they exercised it. It is my absolute democratic right to congratulate them. However , I was informed that the Council has to get advice on whether my salutations could indeed be recorded and be included in the minutes of the meeting.
I find this exasperating, highly undemocratic and unjust.”
Speaking after the MD meeting today , Cllr Tóibín said “The entire body politic, its highly funded and highly partisan NGO sector, rowed in behind this Referendum and tried to ram it through, even lying about the advice received from the Attorney General ; instead of getting the result they wanted, they were met by an electorate who would not ‘obey their dictates’ so to speak and used their discernment and voted NO NO. They used their franchise, and I am being denied mine. I am an elected Cllr ,doing my job for the people who elected me and I am being stonewalled by unelected mandarins.”
“I noted that other councils have recorded similar ‘congratulations’. In the end I acknowledged the Yes voters so we shall see if my words are recorded in the minutes” .
“We are living in an increasingly polarised country where people are ‘othered ‘ for having a different position to the ones that are seen as being ‘ right and correct’ which brokers no debate, no disagreement . It is both amazing and hypocritical to talk about diversity and inclusion and then prevent people who take divergent opinions from their rightful platform. It seems the definition of diversity and inclusion is very narrow.”
In future , will I have to mention the losing side of a football, hurling or tennis match , in the interests of balance”?
“This is going beyond the beyond” .
“I am angry at this latest incident. I’ve already being blocked by the same council from putting down a motion seeking that all further legislation protects biological women in all future legislation. “
“Women fought hard for their rights and it is simply inconceivable that the management of Meath Co Co would try and close me down.”
“As an elected rep ,who by the way received the highest vote for female candidates in June 2019, I take grave exception at Meath Co Council and its attempts to silence me. I will not be silenced.”
