A LOCAL councillor has denied that his decision to resign his seat had anything to do with a complaint lodged against him in relation to his attendance record at council meetings.
Cllr Steve Wrenn (Lab) told Northside People he was quitting his council seat because he was no longer able to juggle his full-time job as a child protection worker with the HSE and his part-time position with Dublin City Council.
“I’m not happy to have to resign but I just can’t do both jobs,
? he said.
“My role with the HSE has been extended because of the lack of social workers and social work staff.
?
Cllr Wrenn said he had applied to the HSE to go part-time and for a career break but was refused. He decided the time was right to give up his seat as councillors would be working flat out over the coming months.
“Being a councillor is a full-time job, especially in the run up to the local elections next year,
? he explained.
“I thought I’d just better let somebody else have a go at it.
?
Complaints about Cllr Wrenn’s attendance record at North West Area council meetings were lodged with the Labour Party and the offices of the Lord Mayor and City Manager on May 27 by 20-year-old Ballymun student, Seán Tyrrell. Mr Tyrrell plans to run in the 2014 Local Elections.
However, Cllr Wrenn said he had never heard of Mr Tyrrell and while he was aware of a complaint, he didn’t know who had made it.
“I did hear about the complaint but it absolutely didn’t have anything to do with my resignation,
? he insisted.
“When I got co-opted onto the council first, one of the things I said in my speech was that I was going to apply to my job for reduced working hours. I applied and I applied but I didn’t get it.
“I only heard about the complaint the other day. It’s nothing got to do with that at all. The fact of the matter is that I just can’t do both jobs at the same time. That’s the bottom line.
?
Cllr Wrenn acknowledged he’d had problems getting to meetings, which played a part in his decision.
“About 90 per cent of the meetings that you go to are a waste of time but there’s one or two very important ones that you can’t miss and they were the ones that I was having to miss because I was working,
? he said.
“I just couldn’t do both jobs. It’s as simple as that.
?
In response to the complaint made by Mr Tyrell – seen by Northside People – an official from the City Manager’s department said councillors
“were expected, and generally endeavoured to, attend all council meetings
?.
However, the response also pointed out that
“it was not always possible for them to attend all these meetings as there are many extra demands on their time, especially family and work
?.
“Members are paid attendance expenses for attendance at Dublin City Council meetings but this is not paid if they are not present at a certain percentage of meetings held,
? the response reads.
“The only sanction for non attendance at meetings, other than loss of payment, is the removal of the Member entirely from the City Council after a continued absence for six consecutive months.
“Cllr Wrenn has not been completely absent for six months at any time.
?
The response also acknowledged Cllr Wrenn’s intention to resign but pointed out that this had been
“in the media recently
?.
However, Mr Tyrrell said he wasn’t impressed by the response to his complaint.
” None of the questions I asked were answered in the response from the City Manager’s Department,
? he claimed.
“If somebody commits to being a councillor, representing the people, they should know you’re going to have to attend around three meetings every month. If you’re not going to be able to attend those meetings you shouldn’t be on the council.
?
Mr Tyrrell said he objected to councillors
“double jobbing
? and vowed to concentrate all his efforts solely on council work if he gets elected next year.
“It pays well enough – sure you get an extra
?¬600 just for showing up for work,
? he said, referring to the
?¬599 monthly attendance expenses councillors get if they attend all council meetings.
“It really explains a lot why the country is the way it is. As somebody who studies economics I think it’s ludicrous. It’s just terrible economics to have payments like that.
?
Cllr Wrenn will officially finish his council duties in August but intends to remain involved in community-based activities. He told Northside People he’d be happy to meet with Mr Tyrrell and discuss any issues he had.