Councillors should not be able to co-opt anybody on to their seat if they leave the council within a year of when the next election is due.

Councillors should not be able to co-opt anybody on to their seat if they leave the council within a year of when the next election is due.

I notice many councillors quit around a year before the next elections are due in order to co-opt a replacement and to give them profile before the election. Im not impressed.
Coyle calls time on 20-year political career but has no plans to disappear Fingal Independent May 28 2013

Speaking to the Fingal Independent about his decision to retire, Mr. Coyle, said he had always intended to step down a year ahead of the next local elections to allow his replacement to be co-opted on the council and establish a record for themselves before facing the electorate.

If you want to get on the council campaign and go for election and win. Isn't it your work in the community that establishes your record, not being co-opted?

If a councillor is elected to another position he should be allowed co-opt a replacment.

Councillors quit for various reasons, work or family commitments or health. One could say that you coulnd't punish somebody for poor health and should have nothing but sympathy for them but heres an example of somebody who says he is retiring due to ill-health but says he decided this year before he stood down, so he can't have been that poorly.

List of co-options around a year before 2014 local elections

List of co-options before 2019 local elections

The Fingal County Council standing orders says If a non party councillor members dies, his/her family gets to nominate a replacement. Would be better if it were his election agent?


City and County Council Members – Co-options and Changes since the 2014 Local Elections Adrain Kavanagh