FG exchange chain mid-term

The two sitting Fine Gael members in the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District have acted out an agreed deal, sharing the responsibility of area chair for the 2021-22 term.

In July last year Cllr Madeleine Argue was appointed Cathaoirleach of the Cavan-Belturbet MD, taking over the role from Independent Councillor Brendan Fay.

She was nominated to the position by Peter McVitty, and this was seconded by Patricia Walsh, who herself was elected vice chair.

However a Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was convened last Friday, January 28, ahead of the MD meeting of elected members proper, when Cllr Argue stepped down from the post and, in doing so, nominated fellow party colleague, Peter McVitty to take the official chain of office.

Cllr Argue stepped down saying she had "enjoyed" her time serving as the area's First Citizen, and praising the support shown to her by fellow elected representatives in Cavan-Belturbet.

She said all were actively involved in "making sure that Cavan-Belturbet is well looked after".

She also thanked the executive for their assistance during her shorted timed as chair, as well as the media for their attendance. Cllr Argue previously hit out at what she felt was a degree of unfairness applied to the process of divvying out the responsibility of chairs and vice-chairs at the beginning of this local political cycle. With Fine Gael losing the majority vote in chamber, such positions have been dominated by Fianna Fáil and Independent representatives.

The proposal to elected Cllr McVitty as chair was seconded by Fianna Fail's Sean Smith.

Patricia Walsh was the first to thank Cllr Argue for her "hard work" while holding office. "Anything that was organised, you were there. That's the sign of a good chairperson," she said.

Cllrs Smith, Fay, and John Paul Feeley also thanked Cllr Argue for her work.

Cllr McVitty took over the post confident that the councillors would continue to "work well" as a group.