Meeting Details

This meeting will be webcast for live and subsequent broadcast on the Council's You Tube site Live Broadcast Link

This Council supports the extension of voting rights in Irish Presidential elections to all Irish citizens living on the island of Ireland, including those in the North.

We believe that all citizens should have a say in choosing their President, regardless of where they live on the island.

In 2013, Ireland's Constitutional Convention recommended this reform, and a referendum was scheduled for 2019.  That referendum was later postponed and has yet to be rescheduled.

This Council will write to the Taoiseach and the Irish Government, calling for it to honour its previous commitment to holding a referendum on this important democratic issue.

That this Council notes the importance of farmers and rural dwellers to our society;

Recognises that farmers, agricultural workers and people living in rural communities can have lower access to cancer services due to the nature of their work and often living in isolated areas.  We also recognise the impact that a cancer diagnosis can have on a family business such as a family farm, including housing, the extended family, and the welfare of livestock;

Endorses the "Nip It In The Bud" campaign delivered by the Farming Community Network in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and acknowledges the benefits to the rural community.

Pledges to do all we can, to raise awareness and save lives, particularly using our social media platforms, to help rural dwellers in this Council area be aware of the symptoms of cancer and to seek immediate medial advice if necessary, as evidence demonstrates that early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.

This Council supports the A5WTC but notes with serious concern the ongoing issues surrounding the vesting process for the A5WTC. In particular, the Council recognises the hardship and distress caused to people whose property has been vested but who, more than five months later, have not received any compensation.

This situation is manifestly unfair. The failure to provide timely compensation following the compulsory acquisition of their property is a breach of natural justice and places unnecessary financial and emotional strain on individuals, families, and businesses.

Therefore, this Council:

(i)          Will write to the Finance Minister about the failure to compensate those affected by the A5 vesting process in a timely manner;

(ii)         Calls on the DAERA, Finance and Infrastructure Ministers to urgently ensure that all property owners are compensated in a timely manner;

(iii)        Requests that the Minister for Finance provide a detailed update to the Council on the expected timeline for full compensation to be delivered;

(iv)        Agrees to write to the relevant Committee in the Northern Ireland Assembly, seeking their intervention and oversight on this matter.

(v)         Asks the DAERA and Infrastructure Ministers to ensure that where buildings are removed by vesting, business owners are provided with a replacement which ensures their business is no worse off.

This Council stands in solidarity with those impacted and reaffirms its commitment to supporting constituents whose rights and livelihoods are being impacted by this flawed process.