Ex-Fine Gael councillor's vote puts Sinn Féin / Independent alliance into power in Laois

A Sinn Féin / Independent alliance has assumed the top jobs in a Laois Conty Council Municipal District after getting the backing of a ex-Fine Gael local repreesentative.

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan has been elected as Cathaoirleach or Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District after getting the support of Cllr Ashling Moran who is not also non-aligned. 

His election ends years of control of the position by Fianna Fail and Fianna Gael councillors through mutual agreements on a rotation basis. 

Cllr Brennan and Sinn Féin's, Cllr Aidan Mullins, who was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach, were both selected from a hat following drawn votes for both seats at a meeting of the Municipal District in Portlaoise today.

Cllr Moran broke ranks to back the pair after leaving Fine Gael earlier in 2023. She congratulated both Cllr Brennan and Cllr Mullins. 

“That’s absolutely brilliant. It’s about time we went away from the norm, well done. I am absolutely delighted, I could nearly cry now for you, so well done,” Cllr Moran said to Cllr Brennan. 

Prior to nominating Cllr Brennan, Cllr Mullins appealed to his fellow councillors to allow a change in the position. 

“Can I just make an appeal to the councillors here. I think this is the tenth year in a row that I have been proposing Ben Brennan, every year it has been knocked back. I would just like to ask my colleagues for one last opportunity to give Ben a shot at it. 

The chair has been rotated among the same number of councillors for the last nine years and I am just asking that for once, you step outside the norms of how you carry on in this council,” said Cllr Mullins. 

Outgoing Cathaoirleach, Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy said that while he took on board what Cllr Mullins had said he wouldn’t be changing. 

“This is the system that we bought in to and this is the system I am supporting,” he said. 

Cllr Mullins, Independent Cllr Aisling Moran and Cllr Brennan all voted in favour of Cllr Brennan. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming proposed Fine Gael Cllr PJ Kelly for the position of Cathaoirleach. The move was supported by Cllr McEvoy resulting in a drawn vote. The two names were placed in a hat and Cllr Brennan’s name was picked by Director of Services Gerry Murphy. 

Cllr McEvoy then proposed Cllr Padraig Fleming for the position of Leas Cathaoirleach, while Cllr Brennan proposed Cllr Aidan Mullins. The vote was again drawn with Fianna Gael and Fianna Fail members voting together and Mr Murphy again selected the name. Cllr Mullins was chosen. 

Cllr PJ Kelly also offered his congratulations and wished Cllr Brennan the best of luck. 

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Cllr Brennan thanked his proposer and seconder and said he would do his best to be fair to everybody. 

“14 years trying it. Eventually it had to come right, if you keep kicking eventually you score,” Cllr Brennan said.