Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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This is something that will rarely be used, if ever. However, a deterrent is required for a small number of examples around the country where, if officials were behaving the same as councillors, they would probably be suspended. There is no mechanism whatsoever to oblige elected members to behave properly after a due process that has gone on for a considerable period. It can only be applied at the end of a process of members deciding that behaviour is unacceptable. It is a reserved function of the entire council and has nothing to do with the powers of the chair. The chair may have asked a particular member to recant and the member might refuse to do so. If the member comes into the following meeting and recants, there is no difficulty. There is great flexibility but the entire membership of the council is involved in this, not just one individual.

In some local authorities, public representatives are in some cases preventing local authority meetings from happening because of their behaviour. That is not acceptable.