Laois councillor feels 'lighter' after Fine Gael resignation

A Laois councillor, who was steeped in Fine Gael, has said leaving the party has left her "feeling lighter" after a tumultuous time as a public representative within the party at local level.

The Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District Councillor Cllr Aisling Moran formally resigned from Fine Gael on Monday, May 1.

Cllr Moran said she enjoyed the support of her party colleagues locally in her first year in office but things changed when she began asking questions about contracts and finances.

“I was out on my own. If it wasn’t for the technical group (which includes Sinn Féin and Labour) supporting my motions I would have got nothing done,” she said. 

“I really believe we need to be more transparent in local government,” said Cllr Moran. “As soon as I started to look into things I was blocked,” Cllr Moran remarked.

She said the spending of public funds by local authorities should be scrutinised.

“It is not their (the council) money, it is the public’s money,” she pointed out.

She has pushed for the introduction of live streaming of council meetings and said if such measures were introduced attitudes would change in council chambers.  

Cllr Moran said leaving Fine Gael was one of the most difficult decisions she has ever made. She said she was becoming increasingly frustrated and isolated. She claimed her party regional organiser was aware of the issues but she acknowledged that she hadn’t documented her interactions with the party.

“I have no intention of joining any other party, my core is Fine Gael, my belief is that the Fine Gael party is not the party I joined,” Cllr Moran said. 

Cllr Moran said “the final straw” was being unable to discuss two issues at a recent council meeting despite giving five days notice that she would be raising them during Any Other Business (AOB). 

“My job is to represent the people of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington area and I need to be able to do that to the best of my ability,” she said. 

Cllr Moran said the reaction to her departure from Fine Gael has so far been positive. 

“Everybody has supported me so far. I received texts and emails from Kerry, Cork and Dublin,” she revealed.

She said people who didn’t even know her had made contact to offer support. 

“It is going grand. I feel lighter,” she said. 

Cllr Moran is daughter of former Fine Gael councillor and general election candidate John Moran, she was elected in her first attempt in 2019. 

Fine Gael TD Charlie  Flanagan said he was “sad” to see Cllr Moran leave Fine Gael. 

“I acknowledge unhappy differences developed. I wish her well in future pursuits,” Deputy Flanagan said. 

A Fine Gael spokesperson said the party had noted Cllr Moran’s comments.

“Councillor Aisling Moran informed Fine Gael HQ of her resignation late Monday night,” they said. 

“Cllr Moran is aware of the party’s complaints procedures for accusations such as bullying, but she never engaged with it. No complaint was ever received by the party,” the spokesperson said. 

Laois County Council accused of 'stupid' land sale to huge company

“It is obviously disappointing to the Laois voters of Graiguecullen-Portarlington that Cllr Moran, who was elected as a Fine Gael councillor, has left the party and is no longer a member.

“Fine Gael is well represented and served on Laois County Council by current Cathaoirleach Thomasina Connell and colleagues; Conor Bergin, John King, Willie Aird, PJ Kelly and Barry Walsh,” the spokesperson said. 

“The Fine Gael group of Laois councillors will continue their hard work on behalf of the people who elected them,” the spokesperson added. 

Fine Gael didn’t respond when asked had any complaints had been made to it about Councillor Moran.