The Cathaoirleach informed the members that correspondence had been received by the Meetings administrator from Cllr. Connaughton last week indicating that he was resigning from the Council after this meeting.

Cllr. Connaughton addressed the meeting and stated that it was an honour to have served on Roscommon Co Council since 2014 replacing his father and together they had given 22 years of service to the community they represented. He served as Cathaoirleach of the Galway Roscommon ETB, Cathaoirleach of the Athlone Municipal District and Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council and is the current Chair of the Roscommon Sports Partnership. The highs of his political career included representing County Roscommon in New York and China and accompanying the late Tracy O’Hara along with Aine Morgan and Vicky Phelan to a meeting with Government in Leinster House to lobby for equal access to the Pembro drug for women diagnosed with cervical cancer. He will not miss some of the rhetoric at Council meetings and expressed disillusionment with red tape both locally and nationally and the efficiency of some meetings. The decision at the March meeting by the Executive not to support his motion to call a meeting to discuss a pumping solution for Lough Funshinagh expedited his decision to resign. He will continue to be involved in his community and support local projects, and promote Roscommon with regard to tourism, employment and investment. He has put in place the requisite process for a nominee to be co-opted in his place and following an interview, 21 year old Emer Kelly from Ballyforan will be nominated to replace him. She will bring a new energy to the Council and will represent the next generation. He thanked the Executive, present and past, the staff of Roscommon County Council, both indoor and outdoor, his election team and campaigners and the Members he served with over the past seven years. He has been involved in politics since he was 16 years old and gained great life experience and did not rule out a return to public life in the future.  He hopes that more business people and people with different backgrounds become involved in politics. He thanked everyone who has sent good wishes to him.

Cathaoirleach said it brings no joy to lose a colleague on the Council.  He thanked him and for his contribution and he represented the county well and has always been a team player and wished him well for his future and congratulated him on his choice of successor.

The members all paid tribute to Cllr. Connaughton and his contribution to County Roscommon over the past seven years:

·         His passion for the job and his personal achievement in topping the poll on two occasions.

·         He was noted as a very good colleague to work with on the Council.

·         The members welcomed the fair and transparent process to co-opt his successor

·         He was full of enthusiasm and has done great things in his seven years in the chamber

·         His departure is a great loss of representation to Athleague Parish.

·         His courage in making the decision to retire was admired and he would be welcomed back if he chose to run again

·         Saddened and shocked to hear of his decision to retire 

·         Politics can be frustrating and bureaucratic and is demanding with a full time job

·         Welcome to his successor Emer Kelly

The Chief Executive said that Cllr. Connaughton leaves with his respect and best wishes for the future.

The Cathaoirleach informed the Members that a Special Plenary meeting will take place on Tuesday 11^th May at 10.00am to co-opt a successor to Cllr. Connaughton.