Verona Murphy takes legal case over access to Wexford County Council meetings

Independent TD Verona Murphy is taking a legal case against Wexford County Council over an alleged lack of access to council meetings and information prepared for councillors.

The Wexford TD has filed a case in the High Court against the local authority, seeking orders to allow her attend meetings as councillors do, and be given information provided to councillors in advance of meetings.

Ms Murphy, a former head of the Irish Road Haulage Association, has clashed with council officials over gaining access to briefing material provided to councillors in advance of meetings.

The legal case was filed in the High Court on Friday, with Ms Murphy being represented by Diarmuid Falvey & Co solicitors.

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Under regulations introduced in 2003, in advance of the end of the dual mandate where Oireachtas members could also hold council seats, TDs and Senators are entitled to attend council meetings and receive access to council information and documentation.

It is understood part of the legal case also challenges requirements introduced for some Wexford council municipal meetings that remote attendees must remain visible on camera while tuned into the meeting.

In recent months Ms Murphy has sent correspondence via a solicitor to council officials complaining about access issues.

Ms Murphy has previously said under legislation Oireachtas members are entitled to receive the same information provided to councillors about meetings.

Speaking to local newspaper the New Ross Standard in September, Ms Murphy complained that the council was treating her “identical to a member of the public” when it came to attending meetings and receiving information.

Wexford County Council has been contacted for comment on the legal case.

In the past Ms Murphy has clashed with the chief executive of the council, Tom Enright, who she criticised in the Dáil during a speech earlier this year.

A report by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) found Mr Enright breached the Local Government Act by sending two emails to southeast Radio in late August 2019 in which he threatened to withdraw council advertising with the station during a dispute over the station’s coverage of the council.