Report Paul Murphy
It was all over in less than 20 minutes – Meath County Council got two new councillors to replace Fianna Fail Cllr Aisling Dempsey and Independent Cllr Gillian Toole who were both elected to the Dail in this month’s General Election. At a special meeting of the council held at Buvinda House, Paul O’Rourke for Fianna Fail and Yvonne Everard for the Independents took up their places as councillors. Cathaoirleach Cllr Sharon Tolan opened the meeting by wishing all the best to the two new TDs and commiserating with those who had run in the election but had been unsuccessful.
Meetings administrator, senior executive officer Elaine Daly announced that she had been advised by the General Secretary of Fianna Fail Sean Dorgan that the party was nominating Paul O’Rourke to fill the vacancy created by the election to the Dail of Ms Dempsey and that the sealed envelope lodged with the council by Ms Toole had contained the name of Yvonne Everard as her nominee tofill the vacancy created by her election to the Dail.
Nominations were opened and Cllr Padraig Coffey proposed the name of Paul O’Rourke and this was seconded by Cllr Wayne Harding. Cllr O’Rourke said that he was very much looking forward to working with everybody on the council. He was then deemed elected.
Independent Cllr Brian Fitzgerald proposed the name of Yvonne Everard. Cllr Carol Lennon seconded. Cllr Fitzgerald said that Ms Everard had asked him to begin by congratulating Gillian Toole of her new post and thanking her for affording her the opportunity by co-opting her to her seat. He said that Yvonne had grown up in a small rural area of Co Donegal, the second youngest of eight and had worked on the family farm from an early age. She had arrived in Ratoath in 1996 to visit a relative and moved there permanently the following year having acquired a job in Dublin.
Marryingin 2002, she and her husband now had six children ranging from nine to 21. She had been involved in schools parents’ associations at primary and secondary level, and had been chairperson for the past five years. Based on her experience of collaborating with school stakeholder, her focus would be on improving the local community for its young people, he said.
“She considers the provision of education, amenities, housing and infrastructure to support both young adults and the ageing population to be key priorities. She will strive to emulate Gillian’s unwavering commitment to the community and looks forward to working closely with her and her fellow representatives in Meath County Council to provide a brighter and better future for all resident of Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Dunboyne and their rural surrounds”, he said.
Cllr Everard said that she was “beyond excited” for this new chapter working in Meath County Council alongside the other six councillors to provide a brighter future for all residents in the municipal district.” Councillors lined up afterwards to congratulate the two new councillors.
Above picture; Newly-coopted Councillors Paul O’Rourke, Fianna Fail, and Yvonne Everard, Independent at this evening’s meeting of Meath County Council. Cllr O’Rourke replaces former councillor Aisling Dempsey and Cllr Everard replaces former councillor Gillian Toole as Cllr David Gilroy looks on.
