Councillor Hugh McElvaney has been asked to resign from Monaghan County Council.
Members of the local authority say Mr McElvaney has broken its code of conduct and needs to step down.
Hugh McElvaney was one of three politicians featured in an RTE Investigates programme last week, along with Donegal Councillor John O’Donnell and Sligo Councillor Joe Queenan. All three were filmed speaking to an undercover RTE journalist posing as a wind farm representative, discussing what they would require for their support for the development. Cllr O’Donnell claims he was set up, and is not in breach of ethics regulations.
Cllr McElvaney has since insisted he knew he was speaking to a journalist and went along with it ‘for the craic’.
However, last night’s vote of Monaghan County Council has no standing in law, and Cllr Hugh McElvaney – can’t be removed by a vote.
The Department of Environment and Local Government says its a matter for the local authority.
Dr Jennifer Kavanagh is a law lecturer at Waterford Institute of Technology………..
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
