Agenda and minutes

The Lord Mayor opened the meeting by sending condolences of the Council to Councillor Catherine Stocker who recently suffered a family bereavement.

The Lord Mayor informed Members that with their agreement this meeting would be adjourned to the 18^th January at 6.15pm to deal with any outstanding items left on the agenda and the motions on notice. She also informed members that there would be a Special Council Meeting on 8^th February on Traveller Accommodation following a request by several councillors.

The Lord Mayor reminded Members that donation forms have been circulated and must be returned to the Chief Executive’s Office by 31st January 2021.  The forms must be signed and witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths, a Notary Public, a Peace   Commissioner or a Practicing Solicitor.

The Lord Mayor thanked everyone who assisted with events at the Mansion House over the Christmas period especially those who attended the Homeless Christmas Day Dinner. 

The Lord Mayor gave an update on the roll out of the Integration Strategy which will start with a webinar at the end of January involving individuals and organisations working on this issue at ground level. She also thanked Councillors for their support following the recent threats that she and her family received. It is this type of discrimination that the Integration Strategy will hopefully help address.

The Lord Mayor confirmed that one Emergency Motion, submitted by Councillor Daithi Doolan in relation to the major fire that took place at the Thornton recycling plant in Ballyfermot on Saturday night, will be taken without debate.

It was moved by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary
Callaghan that Dublin City Council approves the Dublin Chief Executive answering the questions lodged. The motion having been put and carried, written answers to the 125 questions lodged for the City Council meeting were issued. The Questions and
Answers are set out in Appendix A to these minutes.

It was moved by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that that Dublin City Council notes the contents of this letter. The motion was put and carried.

It was also agreed that the correspondence be forwarded to the Arts, Culture, Leisure and Recreation SPC for consideration.

It was moved by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that that Dublin City Council notes the contents of this letter. The motion was put and carried.

It was moved by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that that Dublin City Council notes the contents of this letter. The motion was put and carried.

It was moved by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that that Dublin City Council notes the contents of this letter. The motion was put and carried.

It was moved by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that that Dublin City Council notes the contents of this letter. The motion was put and carried.

The minutes of the City Council Meeting held on the 16th November 2020, the Budget meeting held on the 26th November 2020, the Monthly City Council meeting held on the 7th December 2020 and the Adjourned City Council meeting held on the 14th December 2020, having been printed, certified by the Meetings Administrator, circulated to the Members and taken as read, were signed by the Lord Mayor.

It was proposed by Cllr. Cieran Perry and seconded by Cllr. Anthony Flynn that Cllr. John Lyons be appointed to the City of Dublin Education and Training Board. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 22/2021 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

The Assistant Chief Executive (B. Kenny) agreed to revert to Cllr Mannix Flynn with regards providing access to the legal documentation relating to the acquisition of New Priory.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 23/2021 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 24/2021 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 18/2021 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 21/2021 and assents to the proposal outlined therein. The motion was put and carried.

The Assistant Chief Executive (R. Shakespeare) agreed to revert to Cllr. Máire Devine with details of costings regarding the disposal of wayleaves.

Cllr. Declan Meenagh informed Council that he had a conflict of interest in relation to this item and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion on the matter.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council adopts Report No. 07/2021 and makes Variation (No.31) to the Dublin City Development Plan 2016 – 2022 as outlined in the report. The motion was put and carried.

The Councillors used this opportunity to convey their concerns regarding the continuation of the Development Plan Review process during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chief Executive agreed to convey those concerns to the Minister.  

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 08/2021 and approves the addition of Richmond House (within the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital), Richmond Road, Dublin 3 to the Record of Protected Structures in the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 in accordance with Section 54 and 55 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 as amended. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 09/2021 and approves the addition of Brooklawn (within the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital), Richmond Road, Dublin 3 to the Record of Protected Structures in the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 in accordance with Section 54 and 55 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 as amended. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 03/2021 and hereby approves the Arts Funding for 2021 as set out therein. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 27/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report No. 28/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents and of Report 05/2021 and hereby approves the Audit Committee Charter and 2021 Work Programme. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 19/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 06/2021. The motion was put and carried.

Assistant Chief Executive, Brendan Kenny, responded to numerous queries regarding Housing and Homelessness raised by the elected Members. He agreed to provide replies after the meeting to those Councillors who raised issues for which he did not have the information to hand.  

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 26/2021. The motion was put and carried.

Members raised concerns regarding the speed of Covid-19 vaccination for Dublin Fire Brigade. The Chief Executive confirmed that 25% of DFB staff had received the vaccine and that number would increase further by the end of this week. He has spoken with the Chief Fire Officer who confirmed that he was satisfied at the rate of vaccination.

The Lord Mayor agreed to write to the CEO of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the City Council expressing their concerns regarding the rate of vaccination for Dublin Fire Brigade and calling for DFB to be treated like other frontline staff.

Following a number of requests for information on EU funding from Councillors, the Lord Mayor asked that Assistant Chief Executive, Richard Shakespeare to prepare and issue a report on the matter.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 15/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 12/2021. The motion was put and carried.

Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí wished it be noted that he attended the Housing SPC meeting on 9^th December 2020 despite his name not being recorded in the breviate. His attendance was so noted.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 25/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 20/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 11/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 17/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 14/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 10/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 13/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 16/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 04/2021. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and seconded by Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Callaghan that Dublin City Council notes the contents of Report 29/2021. The motion was put and carried.

No Topical Issue was submitted.

The following Emergency Motion was taken without debate:

Emergency Motion No.1:

Dublin City Council is deeply concerned by the major fire that took place at the Thornton recycling plant in Ballyfermot on Saturday night. The consequence of this fire was felt for miles around with, a ‘close windows’ warning being issued by Dublin Fire Brigade. The public, including staff, need a guarantee that everything is being done to protect their health and safety.

Waste material must be safely removed off site to prevent further odours and smells. A temporary site needs to be accessed as soon as possible to ensure there is no disruption to waste collection service in the City.

Dublin City Council calls on the DCC’s Chief Fire Officer to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into the causes and consequences of the fire and to make public the findings of this investigation. Dublin City Council also calls on the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a review of the plant to ensure it is fully compliant with the license issued to Thornton’s.

Submitted by Councillors:  Daithí Doolan,  Máire Devine,  Daniel Céitinn,  Larry O'Toole,  Mícheál MacDonncha,  Anthony Connaghan,  Janice Boylan,  Seamas McGrattan.  Hazel de Nortúin, Cat O’Driscoll, Tara Deacy, Vincent Jackson, Daithí de Róiste.

Motion No. 1 in the name of Councillor Noeleen Reilly and seconded by Councillor

Ciaran Perry “that Dublin City Council calls on the Government to immediately remove funding of €16.8m to the Greyhound Industry and calls for a complete ban on racing.  6,000 Dogs are killed inhumanly every year in Ireland as well as many more who suffer horrific abuse. In no way should this practice be tolerated and certainly not at the expense of tax payers.”

An amendment to Cllr. Reilly’s motion (see Appendix B for details) was submitted by Councillors Daniel Céitinn, Daithí Doolan and Janice Boylan. The amendment was put to a vote and was defeated. Full details of the vote can be viewed in Appendix C to these minutes.

Councillor Noeleen Reilly’s motion as submitted was put and carried.

Councillors Nial Ring, Anthony Connaghan and Naoise Ó Muirí opposed the motion and Cllr. Keith Connolly abstained.