Moore replaces Dempsey to take over as cathaoirleach of Trim Municipal District

Social Democrat councillor Ronan Moore was elected unopposed as cathaoirleach of Trim Municipal District at a special meeting last Wednesday.

Cllr Moore fills the vacancy which arose following the election of former councillor Aisling Dempsey to Dáil Éireann. He had been serving as leas cathaoirleach and this position has not yet been filled.

The special meeting lasted just minutes with the only item on the agenda being the election of cathaoirleach and the remaining business of the January meeting that was cancelled because of Storm Éowyn postponed to the February meeting.

However, the first Trim MD meeting of 2025 was not without controversy with Aontú's Dave Boyne expressing his frustation that the meeting was over in just three minutes without any discussion on the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

In a statement afterwards, Cllr Boyne said: “I just couldn’t believe it. We’ve just been through the worst storm in recorded history, and half the county is still without power, water, heat and sanitation. We only have one hour per month dedicated to discussing the people’s problems, and everyone was prepared to finish up without giving these issues a second thought”.

He also expressed his opposition to the pact system where agreement had already been reached before the meeting among a majority of councillors on who would be elected cathaoirleach. He said: “I also want it noted that I completely disagree with this process. Ringing around each other and deciding who gets to be elected (Cathaoirleach) before the vote is even held, is completely undemocratic. It means that at least one sixth of the voters of this district, are not having their views represented."

As a point of principal he said he had proposed Fianna Fáil's Paul O'Rourke but without a seconder, this was defeated. He said it wasn't anything personal and he had a good relationship with Cllr Moore and it was the system he felt was wrong.

In response, Cllr Moore defended the short duration of the meeting and said the only item on the agenda was the election of cathaoirleach and the meeting has standing orders that the must adhered to. He added that after the formality of the meeting had concluded they had the opportunity to speak with the area engineer and Director of Services about the storm which they did and there had "been a considerable amount of conversation". Cllr Moore also pointed out that two days previously they had a lengthy discussion about the storm at the full council meeting where all directors of services were present.

He outlined they had held the meeting to elect a cathaoirleach as the role was vacant since the general election at the end of November and a councillor not yet been co-opted at their December meeting, and the January meeting had been cancelled. If they did not hold the meeting, he said it would be the third week of February before the important role would be filled.

Cllr Moore also said it was "disappointing" to be criticised by someone from a party that was part of an agreement at county level in 2019 to decide who would would be cathaoirleach and leas cathoirleach for the five years - a coalition, he was not involved in.