A SINN Féin councillor in Mayo who is a member of staff at the National Museum of Ireland is to resign his seat on Castlebar Town Council next month due to legislation preventing some public servants from standing for election.
Cllr Noel Campbell, Sinn Féin's first elected member of the council, was told being an elected representative was unsustainable while holding full-time employment at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar.
Cllr Campbell claims "a senior Fine Gael figure" voiced concerns to his employers about him being a candidate in the 2009 local elections. "I am very disappointed that this is the way I have to leave my council seat, but my hand has been forced. My full-time employment and my local authority position legally clash and so I must choose between the two. As the council position is only part-time I am forced to hold on to my full-time employment." He has notified the town clerk, Marie Crowley, of his decision to step aside at the January meeting of the council.