Lord Mayor welcomes inclusion to Cork city futures group

The Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Fergal Dennehy, has welcomed the decision that the first citizen of the day is now to be included as part of the Government’s Cork city futures group.

It follows criticism that the group — which was formerly referred to as the Cork city taskforce — was not originally intended to include any elected representatives.

Earlier this month, Cork City Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan said membership would include a number of state agencies, with the city council represented by its assistant chief executive Brian Geaney.

However, it became known over the weekend that the sitting lord mayor will now also be included in the group.

Mr Dennehy, a Fianna Fáil councillor for the South-West ward, is the current lord mayor, and he is due to be succeeded on June 19 by Damian Boylan, a Fine Gael councillor representing the North-West ward.

Mr Dennehy said it was important that the office of the lord mayor would have a seat on the group.

“It is vital that the lord mayor of the day sits on the group, bringing forward the views, priorities, and democratic mandate of the elected members, and helping to ensure that the work of the group reflects the needs and ambitions of the people of Cork."

Mr Dennehy thanked Ms O’Sullivan “for listening to the concerns of council and responding constructively”.

The Cork city futures group will be chaired by Montenotte native Brendan Tuohy, a former secretary general of the Department of Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources, who is also the current chair of Eirgrid, the State-owned electric power transmission operator.

The group will comprise of members representing academia, business, An Garda Síochána, the arts and culture sector, tourism, transport, and the community and voluntary sector.