Mayo local authority chiefs under fire over transfer of outdoor staff

THE monthly meeting of Mayo County Council this afternoon (Monday) descended into acrimony as a row flared over the transfer of outdoor staff from Westport to Ballinrobe and from Belmullet to Ballina.

Four council employees in total are involved, two at each location.

The exchanges over the issue were loud, lengthy and bitter.

Westport based Councillor Christy Hyland, who proposed the suspension of standing orders, complained that the staff involved are being treated in “a horrendous manner.'

He demanded that on humanitarian grounds the staff be allowed remain in their present locations.

One of the staff members involved is within three years of his retirement, Councillor Hyland stated.

Council official John Condon confirmed there had been a number of transfers but, as legal moves had been intitiated by the workers, he was unable to comment as it could prejudice the matter either for the workers involved or the council.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne was quickly on his feet to complain that a legal smokescreen was being created to avoid debate on the issue.

He maintained the way the workers were being treated was not in keeping with a council whose ethos is supposed to be about partnership and cooperation.

As tensions mounted and councillors grew more heated, Councillor Patsy O'Brien called on the executive to reinstate the workers immediately or face industrial action.

Other speakers who denounced the council's actions included Damian Ryan, Tereasa McGuire, Martin McLoughlin, Gerry Ginty, Brendan Mulroy and Frank Durcan.

Councillor Durcan complained the workers were being “kicked around like a footballs.'

Responding to members, chief executive Peter Hynes said there was a requirement to equalise the council workforce around the county and they had redeployed some of the workforce to balance things out.

The elected members warning the executive they expect the matter to be resolved to their satisfaction within two weeks with a meeting will be held to review the matter.