FINE GAEL has called on three Dublin city councillors who are directors of Dublin Port Company to seek a board meeting about the position of its chairman, Joe Burke.
The party's leader on the council, Gerry Breen, is to propose a motion to this effect at the council's next monthly meeting on Monday.
However, the three councillors who sit on the board of Dublin Port Company, two from Labour and one from Fianna Fáil, say they are unable to or do not intend to raise the matter, especially while Mr Burke's case remains before the courts.
Lawyers for Mr Burke yesterday told the High Court he would be appealing against a court order restricting him from involvement in the affairs of any company for five years unless certain capital funding conditions are met. His building company is in liquidation, with a deficit of €2.3 million and tax debts of €279,000.
The appeal is unlikely to be heard by the Supreme Court for some time.
Mr Breen said it was "not sustainable" for Mr Burke to remain in his position as chairman of the port company. He called on Cllrs Tom Stafford of Fianna Fáil, and Paddy Bourke and Kevin Humphreys of Labour, to demand an immediate board meeting.
However, Mr Bourke said the motion was premature as the matter was still before the courts. "Fine Gael are anticipating a judgment that, ultimately, hasn't been made. We'll have to hold our fire." If and when the Supreme Court did rule on the case, the matter would be discussed at the board, he said.
Mr Stafford said he was precluded by corporate governance rules from commenting.
"It doesn't make any odds whether a director says yea or nay, as the chairman is appointed by the Minister. It's the Minister's call."
