New Laois first citizen aims to champion climate action

The honour of being the first citizen of Laois for the final year before the local elections has fallen to Cllr Paschal McEvoy who has put climate change on the top of his agenda.

The Fianna Fáil man assumed the reins as Laois County Council Cathaoirleach after being elected by his party colleagues, Fine Gael and independent, Cllr Ollie Clooney.

Speaking after his election on June 26, at the council's AGM he thanked family, friends and supporters.

He said local issues touch the lives of all in the community. He said the issues that are needed to be addressed are many and wide.

However, the number one issue he identified as his priority impacts all on the planet.

“I'm sure that fellow councillors will agree that one of the main challenges facing us today is the issue of taking responsible and practical steps to respond to the threats posed by climate change.

“It affects every citizen and business in our county and no time should be lost in trying to reduce our carbon footprint to protect our precious environment and to mitigate against the further degradation of natural habitat,” he said.

He outlined the key ways he hoped he would be able to achieve his priority issue while chairperson.

“I will be doing everything in my power to promote more cycling in our towns, to encourage energy efficiency, to eliminate single use plastics and to make significant progress on this critical and pressing challenge,” he said.

Cllr McEvoy said the council has an “excellent” social housing record but he wants to see more progress on cost rental and affordable housing.

The Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District Cllr said he was delighted to see the national broadband rollout in Laois.

He said all 19 county councillors are “doing their best to serve the community that they represent”.

Cllr Padraig Fleming, also of Fianna Fáil, and from the same municipal district, was elected leas Cathaoirleach.

Cllr McEvoy was not backed by former Fine Gael representative Aisling Moran.

Instead, she voted for Sinn Féin's Portarlington-based representative Cllr Aidan Mullins to be Laois County Council Cathaoirleach.