My second motion at yesterday’s Municipal District meeting ‘ That the members revert to the former democratic system of permitting elected representatives to speak on any motion they submit once the motion qualifies for the agenda. The current and relatively new system requiring a seconder in order to permit discussion of a motion, that has already been deemed appropriate for the agenda, goes against core democratic values of free speech and representation. Requiring a seconder permits censorship of individual motions on the Municipal District agenda that have already Kildare County Council Page 12 of 13 been through a qualifying process before being included on the agenda. It is not our role as public representatives to shut down public debate or to retain a mechanism that permits censorship.

Report: The regulation of proceedings at meetings and the requirement for motions to be seconded is set down in Standing Orders. Any proposed amendment to Standing Orders would have to be considered by the Protocol Committee.