Newly co-opted Westmeath councillor Paul Hogan has been speaking on the Let's Talk show today about the controversy surrounding the filling of the seat left vacant with the resignation of Jamie Moran earlier this month.
The former Sinn Fein councillor had been a member of the council prior to the last elections in 2019 and had ended his term as an Independent after resigning from the party.
He was co-opted at a meeting of Westmeath County Council yesterday, beating the only other contender Kevin Boxer Moran by 12 votes to 6.
Boxer Moran called the vote a 'power grab' by Fianna Fail and the Greens.
Councillor Paul Hogan says he doesn't believe that was the case, and maintains the Westmeath council process of filling the vacant seat was actually more inclusive than some requirements set down by other local authorities around the country.
He was speaking to Anne Norris on Let's Talk earlier.
