COUNTY COUNCIL CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO SCRAP UDARAS REFORM PLANS

Date Published: 28-Jun-2012

Galway County Council is to call on the government NOT to go ahead with plans to scrap Udarás elections.

It follows the unanimous passing of a motion raised by Connemara Cllr Seán O Tuairisg who says the plan is unfair and undemocratic.

Under the Gaeltacht Draft Bill 2012 which was published last week, the number of board members would be reduced to 12 with 7 appointed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the remaining 5 appointed by the Council Council.

Under the current system, there is a 20 member board with 3 appointed by the Minister and the remainder elected by the people of the Gaeltacht.

Cllr O’ Tuairisg says the bill would lead to unfair representation for Gaeltacht areas due to the minority of public representatives from these areas.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm news, he says it’s not a balanced election process.