Local people are 'Meath"s greatest asset", says first female chairperson

THE people of Meath are the county"s greatest asset, Cllr Liz McCormack, the new chairperson of Meath County Council, and first ever female holder of the position, has stated. She made the statement on taking up her new role last Monday. The Athboy representative said that during the coming year, she looked forward to meeting with voluntary community groups who are positive and pro-active around the county. It is a case of women-power reigning at county hall, with Navan Fine Gael councillor Jenny D"Arcy taking over as leas Cathaoirleach. Cllr McCormack succeeded Cllr Nick Killian as Cathaoirleach, while the outgoing leas-Cathaoirleach was Cllr Peter Higgins. A pact between Fianna Fail and Independent members of the council after the last election has seen those two groupings share the chair over the past five years. Proposing Cllr McCormack for the chair, Cllr Seamus Murray said she was a very committed member of the local authority who worked very hard for her town and electoral area, as an elected public representative since 1999 and before. Independent councillor and former TD Brian Fitzgerald seconded Cllr McCormack"s nomination, saying that her nomination wasn"t out of tokenism, but because she deserved the position in recognition of all the work she had done over the years. It was 25 years since Athboy last held the chair, when the late Pat Andrews was elected. And Cllr McCormack was following a strong tradition of public representation in the Athboy area, following on from Sean McGurl, Jimmy Finn and Pat Andrews over the years, Colr Fitzgerald added. Colr McCormack said she was overwhelmed by the remarks and the honour. 'An honour I share with my family, my party, the people of Athboy and surrounding areas that I have privilege to serve since I was first elected in 1999, and who in return have given me great support during both good and difficult times.' She said she was also delighted for the Kells electoral area as she is the first chair from that area since Deputy Johnny Brady in 1995. Outlining her priorities, she said it is vital that value for money from council expenditure must be ensured, as the council was not immune to the economic downturn. 'It is my strong belief that we need to focus resources into areas where we can access matching funding from other public and private sources.' Colr McCormack said that the plan to attach community development to planning is a step in the right direction, with a more holistic view of towns and villages needed. Other issues high on the agenda are the joint policing committee formation, water conservation and the funding of a pilot allotment project, and Cllr McCormack proposed workshops on community development. She also looked forward to working with Cllr D"Arcy. 'We have a number of things in common, including our birthday, even though I"m old enough to be her mother,' she said. In his departure speech, Cllr Nick Killian said his abiding memory of his year in office was of communities working for themselves, working together, caring and sharing. 'The voluntary effort of the people of Meath is fully harnessed but needs more supports. Our newer and smaller communities need assistance, expertise and direction. He paid tribute to the 'can do' attitude of the economic development unit of the council, and the Director of Economic Development, Kevin Stewart. Tributes were paid to Cllr D"Arcy"s work with young people as a member of Meath VEC and as a member of the council, which her father, the late Jim D"arcy, had also sat on.