Labour General Election candidate supports increase in bin charges

Sligo/North Leitrim Labour Party election candidate has angered local party supporters over his recent support for an increase in bin charges.

The North Sligo branch of the Labour Party has lodged a formal complaint with the Party's General Secretary against local councillor and newly elected general election candidate, Mr. Jimmy McGarry.

The complaint, which has been lodged under article 14 of the Labour Party Constitution, concerns Clr. McGarry's support for Waste for Collection bye-laws at a meeting of Sligo County Council on October 3rd.

Labour's other two representatives on the Council, Clr. Declan Bree and Clr. Veronica Cawley, joined with Sinn Fein in voting against the adoption of the draft bye-laws.

In a submission on the draft bye-laws to the County Council in August, the Labour Party argued that the new regulations, which come into effect on January 1st next, would lead to major increases in bin charges in Sligo city and county.

"It is our view that Clr. McGarry's decision to side with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael against his Labour colleagues and his decision to vote to impose these new bye-laws can only be considered as injurious to the interests of the Labour Party", said Mr. Daniel Wymbs, Secretary, North Sligo branch, in a letter to the Party's General Secretary.