Coote Ryan votes against party colleague

THE regional organiser of Fine Gael is investigating how and why Ennis town councillor, Mary Coote Ryan voted against her party colleague, Mary Howard for the position of deputy mayor of Ennis.

Jim McMahon said that until he is aware of all of the facts surrounding the vote at Ennis Town Council’s annual general meeting this week, he would not comment on whether or not there would be implications for Councillor Coote Ryan for voting for Green Party councillor Brian Meaney for deputy mayor, instead of Fine Gael councillor Mary Howard.
“The matter has been brought to my attention and I will investigate it. I will also make party headquarters aware of it and consult with them on the matter,” Mr McMahon commented.
However, this is not the first time that Councillor Coote Ryan has voted against one of her fellow Fine Gael councillors in the vote for mayor or deputy mayor. Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn, who is now starting his seventh year on Ennis Town Council, was proposed for the position of mayor and deputy mayor on numerous occasions but has never succeeded in wearing the mayoral chain. Councillor Coote Ryan has never voted for him for either role.
Following Tuesday’s meeting, Councillor Coote Ryan explained that it was the first meeting she had been at in a while, as she had orthopaedic surgery. “I was delighted to be able to attend. When I realised I had voted against Councillor Howard, I actually felt very bad over it. She took it very well. Afterwards I said to her that I had just realised what I had done and she said to forget about it. I’m very fond of Councillor Howard,” she commented.
She continued, “I don’t really know if I’m supposed to vote for a party colleague or not. I am aware of the party pledge but on Tuesday night, party pledge or nothing dawned on me in my vote. I was just delighted to be back at council. It was a genuine thing. I didn’t think about what I’d done until afterwards. I didn’t know beforehand who was being put up for mayor or deputy mayor and that’s the truth.”
In relation to voting against Councillor Flynn on previous occasions, she said, “That was different”.
“At other times, I would have voted for who I thought would be the best person for the job. I didn’t think along party lines. Possibly I thought someone didn’t have enough experience for the job at a given time. I didn’t think about the party pledge or anything, just who would be a good mayor for Ennis. I’ve nothing to hide. I know I agreed to adhere to a party pledge. It is only a party pledge, though. I wouldn’t like for there to be any trouble over this,” she added.
Speaking after the election this week, Councillor Johnny Flynn made the point that a democratic decision was made at the town council meeting.
“Everyone has a vote and everyone cast their vote on Tuesday evening. That’s how democracy works. The danger with majority voting is that the dissident voice can be ignored. It is disappointing, however, because I topped the pole in the elections to Ennis Town Council and those who voted for me would have expected I would get a mayoralty and that is very unlikely to happen,” he said.
“During the previous council term, I was proposed as mayor and deputy mayor and Councillor Coote Ryan didn’t give me a vote either, so this isn’t the first time that she has voted against another Fine Gael councillor,” he commented.
He added that when someone is nominated to stand for election for council, they must sign a party pledge.
“The party pledge indicates the party directive on voting for positions of note at various levels, including council representation on various bodies and the positions of mayor and deputy mayor. We all sign up to that party pledge when we stand for election and, personally, I would not break that party pledge. However, I am not the one to ask if there are implications of breaking the party pledge,” Councillor Flynn said.
He pointed out that attempts were made previously at Ennis Town Council to carve out a deal to give fair distribution of posts, including the mayoralty. In 2004, former Fianna Fáil town councillor Tom Glynn initiated a discussion to reach a consensus on the election of mayor and deputy mayor. The sitting Green Party town councillor at the time, Donal O’Beara, proposed that the position of mayor should be rotated between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, non-party and Green Party on a yearly basis. He also contended that the election of a mayor on the fifth year of a council should be on the drawing of lots. Following the election of Councillor Coote Ryan as mayor of Ennis at that meeting, Councillor O’Beara proposed that the introduction of a rotational system be put in place, seconded by Councillor Flynn, but Councillor Coote Ryan ruled this not in accordance with the agenda. The matter remains unresolved.