Tipperary County Council notes the publication of an Ethics Registrar report arising from a complaint concerning conduct at a meeting of Thurles Municipal Council in July 2025.
The complaint, submitted by Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Michael Smith, relates to remarks alleged to have been made by Independent Team Lowry Councillor Shane Lee during an adjournment period.
In his engagement with the review, Cllr Mr Lee stated he was frustrated at being excluded from discussions relating to rates enhancement funding. He accepted that he used the term “sneak” and referenced Cllr Smith’s general election defeat, while denying the use of profanity and denying the term “tramp”.
The Ethics Registrar, having considered accounts from those present, found prima facie evidence of a breach of the Code of Conduct, indicating that terms including “snake”, “sneak”, “tramp” and “rat” were used in a hostile manner and that the comments were personal, inappropriate and heated.
Recommended Next Steps: Apology, Training, Fewer Zoological Comparisons.
The report recommends:
- a formal apology at a subsequent meeting of the municipal district council.
- mandatory training in respectful conduct and workplace behaviour.
No formal apology has been recorded to date. It is understood the matter has now been referred to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO), which considers certain complaints under Ireland’s ethics framework.
A Council spokesperson said:
“Tipperary County Council fully supports robust debate, particularly on funding, rates and local priorities. However, the Code of Conduct expects members to keep disagreement focused on the issue at hand, rather than the person, and ideally without introducing a wildlife documentary into proceedings.”
Seasonal Guidance (Gentle, But Firm).
With the festive season bringing busy diaries, tight deadlines and the occasional short fuse, the Council reminds all members that seasonal goodwill is best delivered without reptile references, and that respectful engagement remains the standard, even when views are strongly held.
Using the following analogy, my grandmother, Eliza Jane, once stated to me – “While it is easy to squeeze toothpaste from its tube, returning it to that same tube poses a more difficult problem”.
Squeezing toothpaste, latter an irreversible and messy process, illustrates more abstract ideas about things that are easily done, but difficult or impossible to undo, such as words spoken in haste, reputational damage caused or the consequences of an action; thus explaining the concept of irreversibility.
The local government ethics framework is provided for under the Local Government Act 2001 and associated codes of conduct.
Information on SIPO complaints procedures is available from SIPO.
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