Irish move angers unionists

The Irish Government will listen in to Lisburn City Council's meeting

Unionists are angry that the Irish Government intends to send a representative to a council meeting in County Antrim.

The Irish plan to attend the annual general meeting of Lisburn City Council which is due to meet on Thursday evening to elect a mayor and deputy mayor.

Nationalist councillors say they are being excluded from positions of authority.

Last year, none of Lisburn City council's seven nationalist councillors was appointed as a committee chair or vice chair, mayor or deputy mayor, a decision which was criticised by the Irish Government.

Sinn Fein's Paul Butler said that the council was not being inclusive.

"A lot of the outside bodies that the councillors appointed to - nationalists are not any of them.

"Essentially we don't have any voice. We are being treated as second class councillors, if you like.

'Unwelcome interference'

Unionists said that everyone got a fair deal when the committee chair and mayoral jobs were handed out.

Edwin Poots, DUP, is questioning the intention of the Irish Government to send an observer to the meeting.

"It is unwarranted, unwelcome and unprecedented interference from the Dublin Government in the internal affairs of Lisburn City Council," he said.

"I think Dublin would do well to put their own house in order."