Hot exchanges as council opts not to debate Lawes Palestine motion

Report Paul Murphy

A move by Independent Councillor Alan Lawes to get Meath County Council to remove all Coca-Cola products from its premises “because of the genocide in Palestine” led to sharp exchanges and a heated atmosphere at a meeting of the council today, Monday 1st September. Demonstrators carrying Palestine flags protested outside the council HQ Buvinda House, pictured above.  Inside, Cllr Lawes was first on his feet calling for the suspension of standing orders under which the normal running is suspended while an emergency motion is debated but this can only be done with the agreement of the council. Fine Gael Cllr Gerry O’Connor was next on his feet to oppose suspension of standing orders.

Cllr Lawes then said “So you are trying to silence talk about genocide, when we should be trying trying to do something about genocide. That’s what I’m trying to raise here. I think it’s very disingenuous of you not even to allow a discussion to take place about the genocide that is taking place every day on our televisions where children are being slaughtered before our eyes. You’re going to try and silence that motion”.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Wayne Harding said the council was governed by its own standing orders. He added that there was now a counter proposal from the floor. Cllr Lawes said that people needed to know that the council was voting against trying to do something about the genocide taking place in Palestine. It reflected very badly on the Cathaoirleach and on the council. We’re talking about Meath County Council actually doing something about the genocide” The Cathaoirleach said he would allow him to speak on the subject under any other business.

A show of hands vote was directed by the Cathaoirleach and that resulted 18-12 in favour of moving to next business and to not discuss the proposal to suspend standing orders. Cllr Lawes then said he was handing in a letter for the Cathaoirleach, Chief Executive and Meetings
Administrator calling for a special meeting of the council to discuss his original proposal. Under this process a number of councillors can call for a special meeting and the business of that meeting must be specified. The Cathaoirleach has the decision as to whether to convene. If the Cathaoirleach decided not to grant the request, five or more councillors,  can then convene the meeting themselves and all other councillors must be given notice of the time, place and date along with the listed item for discussion.

When the matter came up under AOB the meeting became heated. Cllr Lawes said he never thought the council would not suspend standing orders “for a genocide”. He said the councillors should have listened to a five-year-old child singing a song for his mother “murdered by the Israelis”.
“We should do everything in our power to stop the genocide”. He said Dublin County Council and Donegal council had taken action on the issue long before the genocide started. We in the Friends of Palestine are outraged. By this action the council is complicit in the ongoing genocide. We will remember those councillors who ignored the pubic outrage at the next election”.

There were interruptions from other councillor’s. Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said “you’re out of order”. Cllr Nick Killian said ”what about the jobs for Coca-Cola in Ireland? And there are 1,000 people employed by Coca- Cola in Palestine. You’re looking for cheap headlines as you always do”. Cllr David Gilroy said that Cllr Lawes had been given a full opportunity to state his views but instead he had “gone on a rant”.

Cllr O’Connor said Cllr Lawes had been given every opportunity to bring up the issue. He was applauded by some councillors when he said “There is not one councillor in this chamber who is not concerned about the genocide”. He said Cllr Lawes put in “this token of a motion” and accused Cllr Lawes of targeting him over his pay from the council, which he said consisted mainly of money paid in expenses and which had to be vouched, ie paid by himself and reclaimed afterwards. Cllr Killian said Cllr Lawes was a hypocrite. After further fiery exchanges the Cathoirleach moved to the next item on AOB.