Lord Mayor Should Apologise or Resign
“This time Lord Mayor should apologise, without reservation, or Resign.”
Statement by Councillor Dermot Lacey
Labour Pembroke
18th April 2004
Reports in “Ireland on Sunday” today, 18th April, that the Lord Mayor of Dublin has restated contempt for his fellow City Councillors are a disgrace, according to former Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Dermot Lacey.
“His dishonest, unwarranted and disgraceful reference to previous holders of that office and his highly inflated view of his own contribution simply add to a legacy of embarrassed and embarrassing moments during Mayor Brady’s term.
“His tenure as Lord Mayor has been one of the most useless contributions to Irish Political life, by an elected representative in recent years.
I was reluctant to become involved in previous controversies regarding the Lord Mayor. However his reference to previous Lord Mayors of Dublin, “spending six months in the Mansion House, drinking beer, partying and travelling the world” represent an unworthy and unwarranted attack on his predecessors, many of whom, from all Parties, have made contributions to Irish Society that will live on
long after Lord Mayor Brady exits the political stage”.
“Politics is about ideas and representation. The office of Lord Mayor is, or should be, about standing up for the people and City of Dublin. That the present holder of the office has featured more in the Social and Personal columns than the newsroom says more about the partying approach to politics of Lord Mayor Brady than any of his predecessors. I invite any journalist to compare the Diaries of accepted and honoured engagements, for the last ten months and the similar period during my term of office.”
On the last occasion the Lord Mayor attacked his colleagues on the Council, his mealy-mouthed apology was accepted in order to uphold respect for the office.
“This time nothing less than a full unambiguous apology to his fellow Councillors and to the many fine men and women who have served previously as Lord Mayors of Dublin will suffice.”
For Dublin’s sake let us hope that the European Parliament will not have to suffer the same indignity, lack of interest and failure of responsibility, as Dublin City Council has had to contend with in the short career of Councillor Brady to date.”
For further information Contact: Dermot Lacey at 087 2646960
