Kerry County Council will consider livestreaming Municipal District meetings once it’s able to operate the service effectively.
At the recent Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne MD meeting, Independent councillor Jackie Healy-Rae asked when the livestream service would become available at MD level.
Kerry County Council began livestreaming its full, countywide monthly meetings last summer, but this service is not provided for meetings of each of Kerry’s five Municipal Districts.
Cllr Healy-Rae raised the matter at the recent Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District meeting.
He had called for the livestreaming of all council meetings in a motion that was passed, and he said his motion also included MD meetings.
In response, MD manager Christy O’Connor, who is also the council’s Director of Corporate Services and Data Protection Officer, said all full meetings in the council chamber are livestreamed.
He said the council needs to improve its communications system for the livestream and for blended meetings, as it’s operational but not perfect.
Mr O’Connor said the council needs additional equipment for a more efficient livestream, and it’s looking at purchasing this new equipment and seeking funding from the department.
Mr O’Connor added they didn’t give a commitment for livestreaming the MD meetings, but it’s something the council can consider once the livestream is operating efficiently.
He said new equipment is needed to livestream in a professional manner, and the council will look at it in the future.
Cllr Healy-Rae replied that the answer would drive you stone mad, as his motion on livestreaming was very clear that it included MD meetings, and it was adopted by all councillors.
