A LAOIS county councillor has responded to public criticism, following her claim that politicians are “frontline staff” during the Covid-19 emergency.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley from Portlaoise faced an instant backlash, when her comment was reported on the ‘Laois Nationalist’ website and Facebook link today, under the headline ‘Laois councillor says politicians are frontline staff.’

The report accurately stated that Cllr Dwane Stanley described county councillors as “frontline staff”, at a Laois County Council teleconference meeting this morning. The comment brought a strong and mainly negative reaction on Facebook.

Cllr Dwane Stanley sent an email to the ‘Laois Nationalist’ this afternoon, following the furore. Her email said: “Today at the council meeting held by phone, I referred to councillors as being frontline staff. I would like to clarify that I meant essential workers. I was in no way comparing our work to nurses and doctors and all of the councillors would have understood what I meant. We are listed by the Government and the health emergency team as essential workers and we received a letter stating this. I would hope this clarifies what I meant, as I believe the headline gives a completely different impression.”

As reported this morning, Cllr Dwane Stanley’s description of councillors as “frontline staff” got short shrift from council chairman cllr Willie Aird (FG), who replied: “I don’t think we are. Are you saying we are equal to the nurses and doctors? I don’t think so.”

Cllr Dwane Stanley said the government had stated that public representatives are frontline staff during the pandemic.

She said: “We are considered to be frontline staff and the government has said so. We are frontline. I am saying that people in our community are looking for our assistance on a daily basis. I am busier now than I have ever been.”

Cllr Aird pointed out that council staff are responding to councillors’ queries within 15 to 20 minutes, so the council is continuing to deal with local people’s issues daily.

Cllr Dwane Stanley agreed but said that not all council business could be done by email or over the phone. She felt a better system should be devised, as county councillors were frontline staff in dealing with Laois people’s issues during the emergency.

Her comments came during criticism from a number of councillors over the current system of holding meetings by teleconference. The system is not working as far as some are concerned and there were calls for meetings to be held in the council chamber instead, while observing social distancing rules.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy (FF) told the teleconference that his phone had cut out 14 times and others had similar problems. Council chief executive John Mulholland said the teleconference system would be reviewed.