MEMBERS of the Fianna Fáil party walked out of a Cork County Council meeting on Monday in protest at the manner in which the mayor dealt with their concerns about council staff who are refusing to deal with representations from members of the government parties.

The issue was raised at the start of the meeting by the Fianna Fáil leader in the chamber, Cllr Alan Coleman, who said that, historically, public servants in Ireland have excelled at being apolitical. Now, however, their protest has become politicised.

Councillor Coleman was looking for a statement from manager Martin Riordan on the issue. But, Mayor Derry Canty said that he would not allow the manager's statement to be made until 1pm.

Councillor Michael Hegarty of Fine Gael said the situation had arisen "as a result of Fianna Fail mismanagement at government level", while Labour's Paula Desmond said: "The bottom line is that Fianna Fail must finally, finally pay the price for their political decisions. Workers in the country have rights."

She described Cllr Coleman's comments as "an absolute disgrace", and said: "The workers will not have their hard won rights dismantled. What they are actually looking for is dismantling workers right; it's Thatcherite, it's nothing less and it will happen over the Labour Party's dead bodies."

When, having allowed statements from party leaders, Councillor Canty again refused to let the manager respond until 1pm, all of the Fianna Fáil councillors walked out of the chamber.

They returned at 1pm, at which time County Manager Martin Riordan confirmed that he was advised in January by national union leaders that: "Staff members who are members of unions have been directed not to process representations by government ministers and elected members of the government parties."

"This is a national dispute being visited on local organisations. While members are instructed to do things by their unions they have a job to carry out," he said.

"It is not acceptable that they [council staff] would be instructed to take a view with regard to various members based on the political party they represent," he added.

Anyone who is a true democrat, Councillor Coleman said in response, would agree that this direction from the unions is regrettable. He welcomed the manager's response.

Fine Gael's Councillor Michael Hegarty said: "It is disappointing and very disingenious out of Councillor Coleman to try and distort the facts and muddy the waters even further. It's his party in government has caused this situation that we are at today. Would they wake up once and for all and smell the flowers."

Labour's Councillor Paula Desmond added: "It would appear that doctors can protest, farmers can protest, everyone can protest except the public sector. Public service unions, when they protest are savaged and attacked. The unions in this country have had no option but to hit the government where it hurts. There is a very, very simple end to all this, their government can re-open meaningful negotiations with the unions."

In response to condemnation of the Fianna Fáil party's treatment of the mayor, Councillor Donal O'Rourke said: "I would always show respect for the mayor provided that they earn that respect."

He called on the manager, as chief executive of the organisation, to ensure that "all members of this council are treated with parity and have parity of esteem". If that's not forthcoming, he said, it's "blatant discrimination".

Councillor Desmond retorted that Fianna Fáil councillors had been "entirely scurrilous" by walking out of the chamber. "You ran like rats deserting the ship," she added.

Fine Gael's Councillor Kevin Murphy predicted that media coverage of the morning's happenings would all be about the Fianna Fáil walkout and that the issue would not be properly reported. At this point the four journalists in attendance – representing The Corkman, The Irish Examiner, The Evening Echo and The Southern Star – staged their own walkout.

- TRISH O'DEA