John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Councils set their own standing orders. Many councils were very quick to write to the Department or to me about how they were to hold meetings. It is a matter for themselves. Most have now amended their standing orders to allow for meetings in lecture theatres and so on. All 31 councils now have facilities for their AGMs which fall next month. There is a place for virtual meetings in terms of briefings but when making statutory decisions, I still believe a physical meeting is necessary. Local authorities have it in their power and they have all adopted a situation where they can use theatres or lecture halls to ensure those meeting take place.

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