Tennessee visit trumps Laois council motions on Electric Picnic, wind energy, Gaza, housing

Eight political motions on big issues from Electric Picnic to Gaza, and vacant homes to campervan parks, have been pushed on for a month in Laois.

The motions were tabled by six councillors to be addressed at the June 30 monthly meeting of Laois Council Council in Portlaoise.

However none were heard or answered, with the meeting instead cut short for a political wreath laying ceremony, followed by the Laois County Council AGM. 

The public monthly meeting normally takes some four hours but was cut to less than two, agreed by members to allow their AGM to take place at 2.30pm.

The short meeting also meant that no public answers were given to questions from councillors on all other council issues. 

It ended at 12.45pm for a wreath to be laid commemorating the 175^th anniversary of Laois politician James Fintan Lalor, whose statue proudly points the way to Irish freedom outside council chambers. 

Following the wreath laying, the councillors and officials brought the Lalor Clan and a visiting political delegation from the Laois twinned city of Franklin, Tennessee to a lunch in the council canteen.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan from Portlaoise Municipal District had tabled three of the unheard motions. He asked Laois County Council to support the air navigation Arms Embargo Bill. He asked the council to write to Melvin Benn, MD of Electric Picnic and ask him to allow charities to gather camping equipment. His final motion asked for primary schools to get the same capitation grants as secondary schools.

Cllr Marie Tuohy from the Portlaoise district had tabled two motions. The first asked for a feasibility report for a motorhome and campsite in Laois, the second asked Laois County Council to lend support to the President and the Government in their calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages in Gaza and unhindered access for aid deliveries.

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Cllr Vivienne Phelan from the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District had a motion asking for the Carlow bus service to be reviewed to give a better service to Graiguecullen residents in Laois.

A call for a halt to windfarms until guidelines are updated was a joint motion by Cllr Ollie Clooney and Cllr John King.

Cllr Dwane Stanley from Portlaoise MD had a motion asking for details on vacant sites in Laois, the fines on them and the amount collected. 

The next Laois County Council meeting takes place on July 28.