Bishop criticises education board offer to canon in Cork

AN OFFER to allow a Church of Ireland nominee sit on a Vocational Education Committee board as an observer failed to address a fundamental problem regarding protecting community representation, a leading Church of Ireland clergyman said yesterday.

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Rt Rev Paul Colton, said the offer to allow his nominee, Canon George Salter, to sit as an observer on the Cork County VEC Board didn’t address the need for legislative reform to ensure that community places on the board were free from political interference.

The offer came from Cork County VEC chairman, Fine Gael councillor Noel O’Connor, who said observers were allowed to attend VEC board meetings in other counties. 

Mr O’Connor was speaking after Canon Salter lost out in the contest for one of four community representative places on the 25-person board when Fine Gael members of Cork County Council nominated and backed former Fine Gael councillor, Tom Sheahan of Buttevant.

Bishop Colton asked on what basis the offer was being made and in what capacity Canon Salter would serve as an observer on the board. 

“What the chairman is suggesting sounds to me like an ad-hoc response to a very serious situation. I have no idea on what basis this invitation is being extended to Canon Salter – is it extended to him in his personal capacity, as my nominee or as a Church of Ireland nominee?”

Mr O’Connor said he supported Bishop Colton’s call for legislative reform but he rejected a suggestion the offer amounted to tokenism as Canon Salter would not have any vote.

SIC: IT/IE