Council chair sees off DUP no confidence bid

Council chair sees off DUP no confidence bid

13 May 2015

THE new Sinn Fein chairwoman of Newry, Mourne and Down Council survived a vote of no confidence at last Tuesday’ first full meeting of the new super council.

DUP councillor Billy Walker brought the motion against Naomi Bailie after she attended an Easter Rising commemoration parade in Newry last month wearing her chain of office.

Councillor Walker strongly criticised her actions at the time, arguing that by wearing the chain to attend what was an overtly political event she was compromising the impartiality of the office of chairman. 

But Ms Bailie said she was formally invited to attend as council chair and followed the proper protocols in accepting and attending, dismissing the criticism as “petty playground politics”.

Mr Walker said that during his recent term in office as first citizen he made sure to act impartially.

He said if he had attended a Loyalist event wearing his chain of office “there would have been uproar”.

“When I was chairman last year, as a senior Orangeman I was called to wear my chain of office on the Twelfth of July,” said councillor Walker. “I took the decision not to wear it.”

Councillor Walker said he had no issue with Ms Bailie’s attendance at republican commemorative events but his issue was the wearing of the chain of office when she attended the Newry commemoration.

“In wearing the chain of office to a republican Easter Rising event in Newry she was not being representative of the whole community,” he said.

Mr Walker also pointed out that previous Sinn Fein chairs and vice-chairs of the council during his lifetime had not acted in a similar vein when it came to official events.

“It is with regret that I bring this motion of no confidence against the chair, it gives me no pleasure whatsoever,” said councillor Walker.

UKIP councillor Henry Reilly agreed councillor Bailie had breached protocol.

“The minute you put on that chain of office you represent everyone,” he said. But he told Ms Bailie: “I have absolutely no personal grievance against you.”

Ulster Unionist David Taylor also supported councillor Walker’s motion.

Sinn Fein’s Terry Hearty said the motion was a “disappointing start for the council” and that the commemoration in question had the 1916 Easter Rising as its basis.

“Maybe if they attended people would have a better understanding,” he said.

The SDLP’s Colin McGrath said Ms Bailie had not broken any rules. “I have spoken to the chief executive, there was an official invite,” he said.

Referring to whether or not wearing the council chain was “insensitive” or a “good call” councillor McGrath said that was entering a different arena.

Alliance councillor Patrick Clarke said he too did not think Ms Bailie had done anything wrong.

Councillor Bailie said the invitation for the commemoration was officially received through the council and that she had agreed 99 per cent of invites so far in a busy series of engagements for the start of the new Newry Mourne and Down council.

She said she may be “sympathetic” to some concerns, but “will not be apologising”.

“I don’t think I have any apology to make,” she said, pointing out that she would be representing all communities, including republican communities.

“I think we have much more important issues to deal with in this council,” she said.

The vote of no confidence then proceeded but was defeated. Councillor Walker would have needed the support of all non-Sinn Fein members to secure the vote but the SDLP voted against the motion.