Louth Chief Executive makes statement to councillors on FOI ruling
Louth County Council January meeting
Standing orders at the Louth County Council January meeting were suspended to allow for a discussion of the Information Commissioner's ruling against the local authority, in relation to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
The FOI request related to documents relating to a motion on rescinding the Freedom of Drogheda that has been bestowed on Brother Edmund Garvey, former head of the Christian Brothers.
Cllr Maeve Yore had submitted a motion for the June 2023 council meeting, calling for the rescinding of the Freedom of Drogheda bestowed on Brother Garvey, but the motion had been pulled by the Chief Executive to protect the local authority from legal action.
At the January meeting, Cllr Yore had proposed that standing orders be suspended and following a vote the proposal was carried.
At the outset of the discussion, Chief Executive Joan Martin told the meeting she wanted to speak on the matter regarding the Freedom of Information decision.
Ms Martin said that in all discussions on the matter, be it public or otherwise, “we all have to be mindful of those who are impacted by abuse”.
Ms Martin told the members that the matter had been raised previously at three council meetings and at least three Coporate Policy meetings and that it has now become “the focal point of one programme on LMFM”.
The Chief Executive told the members that FOI requests are an ongoing feature in the life of a local authority on an annual basis, with Louth County Council receiving around 110 requests, and that “at any one time, five or six requests are being managed and responded to monthly”.
“We are very familiar with overall FOI process. Any alternative assertion is wrong. Other than the current FOI focus, there are never any issues about the process or the appeals mechanism.”
Ms Martin said that it was “highly unusual for communication related to an ongoing, and still ongoing FOI request, to be dealt with across broadcasting channels. “And unfortunately, in this incident, has led to a perception that there were 892 relevant documents.”
The Chief Executive noted “LMFM's highly critical comments about the executive of Louth County Council and personalised comments about myself. This in no manner surprises me and sadly I accept it as part of the role.”
She went on to say that she has come to accept the personalised focus but added “what I do not accept is when my professionalism, my integity, or my motivations are called into question by him or any other individual. The same stands for any member of my team who I am proud to work with.
“These assertions are entirely false and regretfully, they were made by an individual in a highly privileged position.
“Let me state here that the role and work of Louth County Council is dictated by legislation under which we exist, and not by any external commentator.
“The executive and myself will continue to serve the community in the delivery of impactful, robust and strong service standards.”
Following the Chief Executive's statement, councillors discussed the matter further for a time before other matters at the January meeting were discussed.