Jackie Maguire to remain on as chief executive of Meath Co Council for another three years

Jackie Maguire is to remain as chief executive of Meath County Council for another three years, it was revealed at Monday’s annual general meeting of the council.

Outgoing cathaoirleach, Cllr Wayne Harding, said that he had signed the order extending her period in charge of the county council, as he wished her well in steering the county out of the coronavirus crisis.

The Trim native and former Navan town clerk served as finance officer and head of finance as well as director of services in HR and corporate in Meath Co Council, before moving to become Leitrim County Manager in 2006.

She returned as Meath’s first CE in 2013, and is involved in the City and County Management Association, and the Housing Finance Agency, amongst other national organisations.

At Monday’s council meeting, tributes were paid to retiring director of services, Kevin Stewart, and planning officer, Pat Gallagher.

A decision on the controversial issue of parking on east Meath’s beaches was bounced onto the next meeting of the council’s environmental special policy committee following a heated debate at Meath County Council’s meeting on Monday.

The council – and Fine Gael members – were split on Cllr Sharon Tolan’s motion: "In order to protect public health, and assist with ensuring public health guidelines can be followed, call on Meath County Council to continue to prohibit vehicle access to all Meath beaches, at least until social distancing is no longer advised by public health officials."

Concerns that there is no alternative parking available for those who travel to the coast to enjoy the beach was raised, and Cllr Joe Bonner proposed that the matter be put back to the SPC meeting, seconded by Cllr Wayne Harding.

Cllr Nick Killian remembered George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police in Minnesota, USA, has caused widespread international protest, during the expressions of sympathy at Monday’s council meeting.

He said that as Meath marked the centenary of the council meeting which marked the first Dail Eireann and the end of British rule, we should look at what happened with racism throughout the centuries.

"We as a country had the knee of British imperialism on our neck for well over 700 years, and the coloured communities right across America, and indeed in my own village last week, there was graffiti which was certainly not appropriate for any community to see."

The council agreed to send a message of sympathy to the American Embassy, "to show our sympathy with the people who are suffering in America, not just today but down through the years," Cllr Killian said.