“A major win for transparency” says Councillor McGinty
Plans by Meath County Council to delete over 80 hours of digital recordings of Zoom meetings, including debates on county development plans, have been reversed following an appeal to the Information Commission.
The Commission’s decision came in response to a request, initiated by Labour Councillor Elaine McGinty, from a group of Councillors called the Meath County Council Technical Group.
The Technical Group asked the Information Commission to investigate the decision by Meath County Council to preserve these records for only two months and their decision was that all verbal and digital recordings of debate on county development plans must be preserved.
Following an investigation a senior investigator at the Information Commission directed the release of the records sought.
McGinty had raised her concerns with the Minister and the CEO of the County Council saying that there was a collective responsibility to maintain and preserve all records of the Special Planning Meeting under the Local Government Act (2001), the Freedom of Information Act (2014) and the Data Protection Acts.
“This is a huge win for transparency and the public interest” Ms McGinty said. “During the pandemic, Meath County Council recorded over 80 hours of meetings via Zoom.
“A record is record whethter it is digital or on paper” she told Drogheda Life. “These video recorded sessions not only reflect the recording of the votes taken and the debate but more crucially as Councillors, it is a vital record of the verbal and digital information provided to us by Meath County Council’s Executive and Planners, prior to those votes being taken by us as Councillors.
“I was shocked when I learned of plans to destroy these records after two months and I am delighted with the decision of the Information Commissioner.
“I pursued this issue because I believe what was being proposed was not in line with the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection Act.”
“Minister O’Brien should now not only welcome this decision but instruct all County Councils to ensure that no records of the debates are destroyed.
“Transparency in planning matters, decision-making and open government – both local and national – is an important principle and that is why today’s decision is an important one.
“The Labour Party brought in the Freedom of Information Act in 1997 which was gutted in 2000 by Fianna Fáil.
“I am calling on Minister O’Brien to step up now and ensure that this decision is implemented nationwide. “
“For the last while, the airwaves have been dominated by housing, planning, vulture funds and Government policy both past and present.
“Everybody is willing our national politicians to sort out our housing crisis but the reality is housing starts at local government and how land is zoned.
“We have an opportunity to be part of a tide of change. Transparency around local government decision making is vital to this.”
