Higgins dismisses FG's claim he's breaching dual mandate
Wednesday June 17 2009
SOCIALIST MEP Joe Higgins last night dismissed as "sour grapes" claims that he was breaching the spirit of a dual mandate ban by voting for a mayor of Fingal next Friday.
The newly elected Dublin MEP also won a Fingal county council seat earlier this month.
Mr Higgins is about to surrender his council seat. But in the meantime he is set to play a key role in deciding who becomes mayor in the local authority, commanding a powerbroker bloc of three Socialist Party councillors in the 24-seat chamber.
The former TD is now legally a county councillor, although he won't officially be an MEP until July 14.
The position of Lord Mayor of Fingal is finely balanced -- Labour, with nine councillors, together with the three Socialists, accounts for half the seats. Adding one of the two independents would give them an overall majority.
Labour has been talking to the Socialists and a deal has been worked out which would exclude Fine Gael.
Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan said he believed Mr Higgins' proposed actions made a mockery of efforts to end the dual mandate for politicians.
- Senan Molony
