New City Mayor, Cllr John Gilligan, had his diplomatic skills tested for the first time at the last council meeting before the summer break earlier this week as a row erupted over a special policy committee meeting last month.

Cllr Kevin Kiely demanded that Cllr Kieran Walsh-who is chairman of the Economic Policy and Future Planning Strategic Policy Committee-resign this post because he missed a committee meeting on June 16.

Mayor John Gilligan

The meeting went ahead despite the fact that there was not a quorum of members (the minimum amount needed to approve any motions) and as a result a motion by Cllr Gerry McLoughlin could not be passed for inclusion on a full council agenda.

Cllr Kiely explained that he had taken over as acting chair of the meeting-which featured an important presentation on the new Opera Centre-when no-one else was available due to the fact that Chairman Walsh was away on holidays.

"I chaired it because a group came down from Belfast to present information on a Û350 million project. I was very disappointed; I'm not attacking you personally Cllr Walsh but meetings are scheduled and there are only six a year. You neglected to inform us that you wouldn't be there on the day," he said, stating that he thought there had been adequate voting numbers because the mayor was present ex-officio.

"It's not good enough that people take chairs from Limerick City Council and then don't show up. You can't just head off at the drop of a hat. I'm calling for the chairman's resignation. I met Director John Field and he impressed upon me how important the meeting was and I drove up from my holidays in Kilkee to attend."

Cllr Walsh apologised for missing the meeting and thanked Cllr Kiely for taking over but he insisted that he would not resign and said that a motion would be required to get him to do so.

He said that he had organised for someone else to chair the meeting but unfortunately that person was also away on the day.