Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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The proposed measure is draconian. I do not recognise the kind of behaviour the Minister has described, although perhaps it is just that the local authorities I was on were not like that. There certainly were robust exchanges but there was rarely a need to ask somebody to leave the meeting. If they were asked to leave, they generally did so. There may well be a perception that things are different. I would not have a problem with it if I thought there was an appeals mechanism or some way of having a different evaluation of it, other than within the local authority. It is open to abuse, however. For example, the behaviour could be described as unacceptable because of positions raised, rather than being disruptive. When I chaired a council meeting and had to ask somebody to leave, it is not a nice feeling. I fully accept that there is limited capacity to impose a sanction when somebody is not allowing the meeting to continue, but that is rare enough.

The proposed measure is heavy-handed and there is no potential counterbalance. I am concerned that the measure could be abused. I would like to see some sort of control or appeals mechanism so that the proposed powers cannot be abused. As things stand, there is a serious prospect of abuse.