STANDING ORDERS

We, the Athy Town Council hereby make the undermentioned standing orders for the regulation of our business and proceedings.

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 In these Orders “Council” means the Town Council of Athy.

1.2 “Member” means a person elected or chosen to the office of Councillor of the Athy Town Council.

1.3 “Cathaoirleach” means the member of Council elected at the annual meeting of the Council and presiding at any meeting of the Council. In the absence of the Cathaoirleach, the leas Cathaoirleach shall take the chair. In the absence of both the Cathaoirleach and the leas Cathaoirleach, the procedure is set out in the Standing Order – Meetings 2.3 shall take effect.

1.4 The “County Manager” means the County Manager for the administrative county of Kildare and the Town Council of Athy, or in his/her absence is a duly appointed deputy.

1.5 The “Meetings Administrator” means the employee of the Council duly appointed by the Manager, or in his/her absence a duly appointed Deputy.

1.6 The “Town Engineer” means the duly appointed Officer to that office or in his/her absence a duly appointed Deputy.

1.7 In counting “clear days” where the number of days does not exceed 7, Sundays and Christmas Day are not to be reckoned in the computation. If notice exceeds 7 days, Sundays and Christmas Day are to be reckoned.

1.8 Unless otherwise specifically provided, the word “month” when used in resolutions of the Council Standing Orders and regulations of the Council shall be deemed to mean a calendar month.

1.9 Throughout the Standing Orders, unless the contrary intention is shown, the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and words in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

1.10 “The Act” shall mean the Local Government Act 2001 any amendments thereto and any regulations made thereunder.

2. MEETINGS

2.1 The Council may by Resolution fix the time and place of Meetings, subject to the sanction of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing meetings in the normal course shall be held in the Council Chamber, Rathstewart, Athy, commencing at 7.30 p.m. and concluding not later than 10.00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month and shall be the ordinary monthly meeting for the transaction of statutory and general business.

2.2 The Council shall hold a Budget Meeting and an Annual Meeting at a time specified therefor by statute.

2.3 The Chair at every meeting shall be taken within a quarter of an hour after the time appointed for a meeting provided the quorum is present. In the absence of the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Cathaoirleach a member of the Council chosen by the majority of the members present and voting at the commencement of the business shall preside as Acting Cathaoirleach until the arrival of the Cathaoirleach or the Leas-Cathaoirleach at the meeting. Such Acting Cathaoirleach shall have the same powers, rights, and duties as are under Standing Orders possessed of by the Cathaoirleach.

Immediately on his arrival at the meeting, the Cathaoirleach or in his absence, the Leas Cathaoirleach, shall take the Chair. Should the Cathaoirleach vacate the chair before the termination of the meeting, the Leas-Cathaoirleach shall take the chair, or in his absence, a member of the Council chosen by a majority of the members present and voting shall preside as Acting Cathaoirleach. For the purpose of electing an Acting Cathaoirleach, as above, the Meetings Administrator shall preside for the purpose of receiving nominations for the chair.

2.4 If after the expiration of 30 minutes after the hour of which the Meeting has been summoned, a quorum shall not be present, the business shall stand postponed until the next Meeting. At Meetings of the Council four of the total number of members shall constitute a quorum.

2.5 (1) A notification to attend a meeting, other than a local authority budget

meeting, shall-

a) be sent or delivered to each member of the local authority concerned,

b) specify the place, date and time of the meeting, and

c) give not less than 3 clear days notice of the meeting.

(2) Notification of the Council’s Budget Meeting shall be in accordance with Section 103 of the Act.

(3) In the case of a meeting requisitioned under section 140 of the Act or convened under section 34 or 146 of the Act the relevant section applies in relation to such meeting.

(4) (a) A notification shall include or be accompanied by an agenda listing

the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting.

(b) An agenda which has been sent or delivered for the purposes of subparagraph (a) may be altered (whether by way of addition, deletion or otherwise) if an agenda paper specifying the alteration is delivered or sent to each member not less than 3 clear days before the day on which the meeting is to be held.

(5) In the case of a special meeting convened under paragraph 2.7, a copy of the requisition shall be sent with the notification.

(6) Subject to subparagraph (7), a notification shall have the signature of the Meetings Administrator and any document claiming to have that signature shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to have been duly issued or given with the authority of the Council.

(7) Non-receipt of a notification by any member or lack of a signature or any other defect in the notification does not affect the validity of a meeting or of any act or thing done at the meeting.

(8) For the purposes of this paragraph “signature” includes a facsimile of a signature by whatever process reproduced or a printed version, whether original or facsimile, of the name of the Meetings Administrator and a printed version of that name, whether original or facsimile, shall be deemed to have been duly placed on the document by or with the consent of the Meetings Administrator until the contrary is proved.

(9) The Meetings Administrator shall, where practicable, advise the Cathaoirleach as regards the business of a meeting.

2.6 (1) (a) Notice of the place, date, and time of a meeting other than a local

authority budget meeting shall be displayed not less than 3 clear days before the day of the meeting in or at the principal offices of the Council in a position convenient for public inspection during normal office hours.

(b) A notice referred to in clause (a) shall include the agenda for the meeting or shall specify a place where the agenda can be inspected and in the case of a meeting requisitioned under paragraph 2.7 or under section 140 of the Act, i.e. Special Meetings, the agenda shall include or be accompanied by a copy of the requisition.

(2) (a) On request, the Council shall supply a copy of a public notice

and agenda to any person seeking such copy.

(b) The Council may make arrangements for the supply to the media of copies of a public notice and agenda referred to in clause (a).

(c) The Council may charge such fee, if any, as it may fix for the supply of the copy of the public notice and agenda but no fee shall exceed the reasonable cost of providing the copy.

(3) By resolution or standing orders, the Council may make such additional arrangements for the giving of public notice of meetings, including display of notice at additional locations, including but not limited to public libraries, or publication in a newspaper, electronically or otherwise, as it considers appropriate.

(4) Failure to display or to supply a copy of a notice by virtue of this paragraph does not affect the validity of a meeting or of any act or thing done at the meeting.

2.7 SPECIAL MEETING

(1) A requisition to have a special meeting of the Council convened ( in this paragraph referred to as a “requisition”) may be made by the Cathaoirleach, if the office of Cathaoirleach is vacant, or the Cathaoirleach is unable to act, by the Leas-Cathaoirleach, or by the Cathaoirleach on foot of a request presented to him by any 5 members.

(2) Where the Cathaoirleach refuses or neglects to act on foot of a request referred to above within 7 days of it being presented to him or her, the members making the request may convene the meeting in accordance with this paragraph.

(3) A requisition shall be made in writing and be delivered by the Cathaoirleach, the Leas-Cathaoirleach or in a case where paragraph (2) applies by the Members making the requisition, as the case may be, to the Meetings Administrator.

(4) A requisition shall be signed by the person or persons making it, as the case may be, and shall contain as an Agenda a statement of the business which it is proposed to transact at the meeting, and specify a day, (other than an excluded day), which is not less than three clear days after the day on which it is received by the Meetings Administrator, for the holding of the meeting.

(5) On receipt of a requisition, the Meetings Administrator shall, unless it is a case to which subparagraph (6) applies, issue a notification under paragraph 2.5 and give public notice under paragraph 2.6 for the special meeting required by the requisition.

(6) Where a requisition under subparagraph (1) specifies a day for the holding of a special meeting, and an ordinary meeting of the Council is to be held on a day within the period of 10 days after the day on which the Meetings Administrator receives the requisition, the business stated in the requisition shall be considered at that ordinary meeting and the special meeting shall not be convened.

2.8 ANNUAL MEETING

In every year in which a local election is held, the annual meeting of the Council shall be held on the tenth day after the polling day or, where the poll is for any reason countermanded, interrupted or adjourned, the tenth day after the day on which the poll is completed or the fresh poll is held.

Where the tenth day referred to is an excluded day, the meeting shall be held on the next following day which is not an excluded day.

In every other year, the Council shall hold an annual meeting on such a day, in the month of May or June, as the Council shall by resolution appoint.

Whenever an annual meeting of the Council is for any reason not held on the day appointed or fixed by or by virtue of this paragraph for the holding of such meeting, the Meetings Administrator shall, following consultation, if practicable, with the Cathaoirleach, or if the office of the Cathaoirleach is vacant or the Cathaoirleach is unable to act, with the Leas-Cathaoirleach, convene a meeting of the Council for a convenient hour on the day which appears to such Administrator to be the earliest convenient date for that purpose, and a meeting so held shall be deemed for all purposes to be an annual meeting held on the day appointed.

At an annual meeting in an election year the Meetings Administrator shall read out the names of the persons duly elected as members to the Council.

Subject to the above paragraph, the election of a Cathaoirleach in accordance with sections 36 and 37 of the Act is to be the first business at an annual meeting.

Where the Cathaoirleach is elected in accordance with sections 36 and 37 of the Act the next business shall be the election of the Leas-Cathaoirleach.

In the case of the annual meeting in an election year the business to be transacted shall, subject to this paragraph, include the consideration of the election, appointment or nomination of members of joint bodies or other bodies elected, appointed or nominated by the Council.

Every member of a joint body who has been elected, appointed or nominated by the Council and is in office as such member at the date of an election to the Council shall continue to hold office as such member of such joint body until his or her successor is appointed unless he or she sooner dies, resigns, is disqualified, removed from office or otherwise ceases to be a member of the joint body, as the case may be, other than by way of reaching the ordinary day of retirement of members of the Council.

In an election year the Council shall publish a notice of its annual meeting in at least one newspaper circulating in its administrative area which states the date of the annual meeting and that the first business of the meeting will be the election of the Cathaoirleach, and specifies the joint bodies and other bodies to which the Council is entitled to make appointments at that meeting or subsequently.

In this paragraph “appointments” includes appointments of members of the Council, whether by virtue of holding a particular office or by way of nomination, election or otherwise, and appointments of persons who are not members of the Council.

The notice of the annual meeting or any subsequent notice regarding this meeting shall be in a form and published within a period, prescribed by the Minister by regulations.

Failure by the Council to publish a notice of the annual meeting as required or to publish it with any omission or error in it does not invalidate any meeting of the Council or any appointment made or other thing done at the meeting.

3. ORDER OF BUSINESS

3.1 At the outset of each Meeting the Meetings Administrator shall record the attendance of members and ascertain that a quorum is present.

3.2 The order of business at all but Special, Annual or Budget Meetings shall be as herein set down and shall only be altered in the case of special emergency and only then by a majority vote of the members present:

(a) Confirmation of Minutes and matters arising

(b) Correspondence

(d) Business and reports submitted by the County Manager.

(e) Planning Register

(f) Any other business arising with the permission of the Cathaoirleach

(g) Resolutions of condolence and/or congratulations

4. MINUTES

4.1 Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of the Council shall be drawn up by the Meetings Administrator.

4.2 The minutes shall include-

the date, time and place of the meeting,
the names of the members present at the meeting,
a list of the senior employees of the Council present at the meeting,
reference to any report submitted to the members at the meeting,
where there is a roll call vote, the number and names of members voting for and against the motion and of those abstaining,
particulars of all resolutions passed at the meeting,
such other matters considered appropriate.

4.3 A copy of the minutes of the meeting shall be sent or given by the Meetings Administrator to each member of the Council.

4.4 Minutes of a meeting shall be submitted for confirmation as an accurate record at the next following ordinary meeting, where practicable, or where not, at the next following meeting and recorded in the minutes of that meeting.

4.5 When confirmed, with or without amendment, the minutes of a meeting shall be signed by the person chairing the meeting they were submitted to for confirmation and any minutes claiming to be so signed shall be received in evidence without proof.

4.6 Until the contrary is proved, every meeting in respect of the proceedings of which minutes have been confirmed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and all the members at the meeting shall be deemed to be duly qualified.

4.7 A copy of the minutes of a meeting when confirmed in accordance with subparagraph 5 shall be open to inspection at the principal offices of the Council and any person may inspect and make a copy of, or abstract from, the minutes during the usual office hours of the Council.

4.8 A copy of the minutes shall be provided to any person applying for them on payment of such reasonable sum, if any, being a sum not exceeding the reasonable cost of supplying the copy, as may be fixed by the Council.

4.9 The Council shall make proper arrangements for the safe keeping of the minutes of the Council.

5. NOTICES OF MOTION

5.1 Any member of the Council may submit an original motion relevant to the business of the Council on giving notice in writing signed by himself to the Meetings Administrator. Only those Notices of Motion which are received by the Meetings Administrator 7 days before the date of the Council meeting shall appear on the Agenda paper. A Notice of Motion other than a Notice to rescind a previous resolution shall be in the name of one Member. Members who wish to associate themselves with the motion may do so by having their names included on the Agenda with the Motion. Every Notice of Motion and a Notice of Amendment will be included on the Agenda for meetings of the Athy Town Council, unless such motion deals with an issue not being a concern to the people of Athy Town.

The Agenda paper shall not contain more than 3 Notices of Motion from any 1 member. Each section of a multiple Motion shall be considered as constituting a separate Notice of Motion. Every question at a Meeting of a Council shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members voting on the question unless otherwise provided by for by statute and in the case of an equal division of votes the Cathaoirleach of the Meeting shall have a second or casting vote. The Cathaoirleach shall call for a proposer and seconder to formally move a motion. The Meetings Administrator shall then read the Motion and any reports at his/her disposal relevant to such Motion.

Members may only speak to the specific Motion or item on the Agenda. No speech at a meeting shall exceed 3 minutes in length without the consent of the Cathaoirleach which shall be given only where the question on the discussion is of exceptional importance. The said consent shall enable the member to continue speaking for an additional 3 minutes. Any further extension shall require the consent of the Council and shall be for a definite period.

When a Motion has been duly moved and seconded the discussion may be interpreted by some or all of the following proposals;

(a) To amend the Motion.

(b) To move that the Meeting move to the next Business. When this is proposed and seconded a Vote must be taken without any discussion. If lost, a similar Motion concerning the same subject of debate cannot be moved until 15 minutes after the elapse.

(c) To move the closure. After the debate has continued for not less than an hour a member may ask leave to move that the question be now put, and if such leave be given by the consent of the Cathaoirleach the motion shall be forthwith put and if carried any question then before the Chair shall be forthwith put to the Council.

(d) To postpone consideration of the question sine die or to a fixed date.

(e) To adjourn the subject under discussion to a later hour or to a future Meeting.

The following Motions may be made without notice at a Meeting:-

(a) On matters expressly required by statute to be done at the Meeting.

(b) On matters arising directly out of a report(s) presented at the Meeting.

(d) For the resolution of the Council into Committee of the whole Council. (i.e. Council in Committee)

(e) For the variation of the order of a business.

(f) For the adjournment of the meeting.

(g) For the suspension of Standing Orders in respect of any specific rule or rules.

(h) For the appointment of a Cathaoirleach of the day, the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Cathaoirleach being absent.

(i) For the adoption, amendment or referring back of any report.

(j) Relating to any other business brought forward with the consent of the Cathaoirleach. Want of notice in this case can be excused and the proceedings are valid.

A motion may be proposed either by the member in whose name it stands or in his absence by any member authorised by him to propose it on his behalf, but unless so proposed it shall not be considered and shall not be set down on a future Agenda paper except upon fresh notice. A Motion may be withdrawn by its proposer and seconder and with the leave of the Meeting. It shall not be competent for a Member under cover of any Motion authorised by these orders to discuss any other subjects.

AMENDMENTS

An amendment may (a) omit certain words: (b) omit certain words and insert or add others; (c) insert certain words; (d) add certain words, subject to the following:-

(a) An amendment shall be relevant to the Motion and within the scope of the notice covering the motion.

(b) An amendment shall not involve such substantial alterations of the Motion as to make it a new Motion.

(c) An amendment must not be merely negative (the result can be attained by challenging a division and voting against the Motion).

(d) An amendment must be formally moved and seconded before any discussion or vote be taken.

(e) An amendment must clearly state the proposed alteration.

(f) An amendment shall not be moved after the question is put. The mover of an amendment may be permitted by the chair to reply.

If there is an equality of votes and the Cathaoirleach does not exercise his casting vote, the amendment is deemed not carried and the motion stands. No member shall move more than one amendment to the same motion. Where an amendment which has been carried is put as a substantive Motion any amendment that so amends the substantive Motion, that is becomes the original shall not be allowed. Where an amendment which has been carried is lost as a substantive Motion the original motion is not revived. Where a Motion and an amendment remain before the Chair the amendment shall be first put and shall be disposed of before any other amendments can be moved. Where an amendment is affirmed the original Motion shall disappear and the amendment shall become a Motion upon which an amendment may be moved.

Where an amendment is lost another amendment to the original Motion may be proposed but only one amendment shall be at any one time before the chair. Notice of any number of amendments may, however, be given.

An amendment shall not be substantially the same as an amendment already lost.

6. RESCINDING RESOLUTIONS

6.1 No notice of rescinding any resolution which has been passed by a previous Meeting of the Council shall be in order unless notice thereof shall have been given and specified in the notice convening the meeting. The notice shall have in addition to the name of the proposer of the Motion the names of 2 other members.

6.2 Any such notice shall be lodged with the Meetings Administrator not less than 7 days prior to the occurrence of the ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Council at which the Motion is to be considered.

6.3 A rescinding resolution shall not be passed unless:-

(a) A quorum is present.

(b) At least one half of the total number of members vote in favour of the rescinding resolution.

6.4 A Resolution may not be rescinded at the Meeting at which it has been adopted.

7. RULES OF DEBATE

7.1 A Member while speaking shall address himself to the Chair. A member speaking is not to be interrupted except on a question of order, but he may give way to a member desiring to make a personal explanation. A member who speaks shall confine his speech strictly to the Motion or Amendment under discussion or to a point of order or information.

7.2 When two or more members indicate at the same time their desire to speak, the member called upon by the chair shall have precedence. At a Meeting of the Council any member whether he has spoken on the matter under discussion or not may rise to a point of order or information. A member so rising shall be entitled to be heard forthwith. The ruling of the Cathaoirleach at a Meeting of the Council on a point of order or on the admissibility of a personal explanation shall be final and shall not be open to discussion.

7.3 When during a debate the Cathaoirleach rises, any member then speaking shall give way and no member shall resume speaking until the Cathaoirleach is seated. Members of the Council shall address and speak to each other in the Council by the respective titles of Cathaoirleach or Member as may be appropriate.

7.4 A member may speak once upon any motion except a motion which is to be put without debate. A member shall not be deemed to have spoken if he has formally seconded a motion or any amendment and he shall if permitted to speak upon it afterwards. The mover of an original motion shall have the right of reply while his motion is before the meeting but he shall strictly confine himself to answering previous speakers. After the reply, the question shall be put forthwith. When an amendment is moved, a member who has spoken to the original motion may speak to the amendment. When the amendment has been affirmed and so becomes an original motion, the proposer of it shall have the right of replying at the close of the debate but no other member who has spoken to it as an amendment may speak to it again after it has become a motion unless a further amendment is moved. Nothing herein contained shall, however, preclude a member from at any time submitting a point of order or requesting a point of information. There is no right of reply to the

Amendments

Motions for adjournment of the meeting

Adjournment of debate

Continuation of sitting

Extension to speech

Postponement of question

Proceeding to next business

Question of privilege

Suspension of sitting for a short period

Withdrawal of motion or amendment

7.5 The Cathaoirleach shall have a discretionary power to allow a member to speak a second time but such permission shall be given only after every member who desires to do so has spoken once.

7.6 Every Member shall be seated during the transaction of business. Whenever a member shall be called to order by the Cathaoirleach, the member so called shall immediately desist and shall not again address the Council until the Cathaoirleach shall have disposed of the question of order.

The Cathaoirleach shall call a member to order for irrelevence, repetition, unbecoming language, reflection of a personal character upon another member or employee or any breach of order and may direct such member if speaking to discontinue his speech.

7.7 It shall be open to a member to address the Council either in Irish or English.

8. ORDER AT MEETINGS

8.1

(1) If;

a) in the opinion of the person chairing a meeting (in this paragraph referred to as the “chair”), any member has been or is disorderly by persistently disregarding the ruling of the chair, or by behaving irregularly, improperly or offensively, or by otherwise obstructing the business of the meeting and,

b) the chair has conveyed his or her opinion to the members present by naming the member concerned,

then the chair or any other member may move “that the member named leave the meeting” and the motion, if seconded, shall be put and determined without discussion.

(2) Where a local authority decides in accordance with subparagraph (1) that a member leave a meeting, that member shall immediately leave the meeting and shall not be entitled to speak or to take any further part in that meeting on that day.

(3) Where in the opinion of the chair-

(a) there is general disorder which impedes the orderly transaction of business, or

(b) where a member against whom it was resolved that he or she leave the meeting by virtue of this paragraph refuses to do so,

the chair may adjourn the meeting for such period as he or she considers necessary in the interests of order.

8.2 No member may use offensive or unbecoming words. Any member having used objectionable words and not retracting the same or offering apologies for the use thereof when requested by the Cathaoirleach to do so, shall be called upon by the Cathaoirleach to withdraw from the meeting and in this regard paragraphs 1(b) and 2 shall apply to such member.

9. VOTING

9.1 Every question at a meeting of the Council shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the Council voting on the question and in the case of an equal division of votes the Cathaoirleach of the meeting shall, expect where otherwise provided by law have a second or casting vote.

9.2 When the Cathaoirleach has not formally declared the result of the vote, or is in doubt as to whether his declaration is right or wrong he is entitled, if he thinks fit, to take a second vote on the matter especially if he considers that through some misunderstanding the first vote did not properly represent the wishes of the meeting.

9.3 Voting may be (a) by voice when it is obvious that the meeting is practically unanimous and no member dissenting, (b) by show of hands, if any objection to correctness of result, a poll may be demanded, (c) by a division, i.e. a regular count of the members for or against the motion shall vote in alphabetical order of their surnames.

10. DEPUTATIONS

RULES – CONTROL OF MEETINGS

10.1 The numbers of public being admitted shall be regulated by the availability of accommodation in the Council Chamber.

10.2 No member of the public shall display any placard or similar object inside the Council Chamber.

10.3 No consultation to take place between the public and any of the members, while the meeting is in progress.

10.4 The public’s role is one of observer, and at no time can they contribute to the proceedings of the meeting.

10.5 If the Council decide to sit in committee to discuss any issue, the public shall leave the Council Chamber when asked to do so by the Cathaoirleach of the day.

10.6 The Council’s Caretaker shall control the entry of the public into the Council Chamber.

10.7 Should any person in the public gallery cause a disturbance or such act that interferes with the business of the meeting, the Cathaoirleach of the day may request that person to leave the building.

10.8 If any person fails to comply with such request, the Cathaoirleach may adjourn the meeting until order is restored.

10.(A) DEPUTATIONS AT COUNCIL MEETINGS

i) The receipt of a deputation shall be decided upon by the Cathaoirleach of the day.

ii) Deputations should consist of not more than five persons.

iii) The deputation may reply to questions put by the Members, but they shall not be entitled to ask questions.

iv) The time allowed for each speaker shall be five minutes.

v) The deputation must leave the meeting before the Members discuss the subject matter of their submission, but may remain in the public gallery subject to the provisions of paragraph 10.

11. QUESTIONS

Members may ask questions in relation to the business of the Council. Such questions will, as far as possible, be answered at the meeting and in any case where the requested information is not readily available, the reply will be conveyed to the member asking the question as quickly as possible after the meeting.

12. RECORD OF ATTENDANCE

Every Member attending a meeting of the Council shall sign his name in the attendance book for the purpose and such book shall be the official record of such attendance.

13. RISING OF COUNCIL

When, at a meeting of the Council the whole of the business set down for such meeting has been transacted, the meeting shall thereupon conclude. When, during any meeting it is stated by a member or the Meetings Adminstrator to the Chair that less than the quorum of members is present, the Meeting Administrator, after an interval of five minutes, shall call a roll and shall record the names of the members in attendance when it appears that the number of members present is less than the quorum, the Council shall rise and the remaining business shall be disposed of at the next meeting of the Council.

14. ATTENDANCE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA AT MEETINGS

14.1 Representatives of the media shall be entitled to be present at meetings of the Council.

14.2 Where the Council is of the opinion that the absence of representatives of the media from whole or any part of a particular meeting is desirable because

(a) of the special nature of the meeting or of an item of business to be or about to be considered at a meeting or

(b) for other special reasons.

The Council may, by resolution, decide to meet in committee for the whole or part of the meeting concerned where the Council considers such action is not contrary to the overall public interest.

It is necessary for the passing of a resolution under the previous paragraph of at least one half of the total number of members of the Council concerned vote in favour of the resolution.

A resolution under the foregoing paragraph shall indicate in a general way the reasons for the resolution and those reasons shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

15. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

Any Standing Order or Standing Orders may at any time by consent of a two-thirds majority of the members present at the meeting of the Council be suspended for the purpose of dealing with any specific business.

16. INTERPRETATION OF STANDING ORDERS

The Cathaoirleach’s ruling on any question or his/her interpretation of the Standing Orders shall be final.

17. MATTERS NOT COVERED BY STANDING ORDERS

The Cathaoirleach shall have power to deal with any matter not covered by Standing Orders.

18. DURATION OF STANDING ORDERS

The foregoing Standing Orders shall continue in force until altered, amended or repealed on notice duly given and carried by a majority of the Members of the Council of at least one half of the total Members of the Council voting in favour.

19. REVOCATION AND COMMENCEMENT

These Standing Orders shall come into operation on the 28^th May, 2002 and all Standing Orders previously made by the Council not already revoked shall be revoked with effect from that date.

20. SEAL

The Common Seal of the Council shall be affixed to all deeds and documents requiring the seal by the County Manager in the presence of the Cathaoirleach or of any member of the Council nominated in that behalf by the Council and of the Town Clerk.

Made under the Official Seal of the Athy Town Council of this the 28^th day of May, 2002.

Present when the official seal of Athy Town Council was affixed.

________________________

Seàn Cunnane
CATHAOIRLEACH

_________________________

Tommy Maddock
A/ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

_________________________

Helen Dowling
TOWN CLERK AND MEETINGS ADMINISTRATOR