FORMER TÁNAISTE and government minister Peter Barry is to be granted the freedom of Cork in early June after councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of honouring the Fine Gael politician.
Councillors yesterday voted 20 in favour and six against the nomination by Lord Mayor of Cork Dara Murphy (FG) to award the freedom of the city to the former TD and tea magnate.
The proposal to nominate Mr Barry for the honour was seconded by Cllr Jim Corr (FG), who spoke of Peter Barry’s achievements in his capacity as minister for foreign affairs in initiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985.
Mr Murphy, in nominating Mr Barry, said the 81-year-old was a “humble and great Corkman”.
The nomination met with some complaints, with Cllr Mick Barry (Socialist Party) saying the decision showed a “depressing lack of imagination”, while Cllr Chris O’Leary (Independent) said the choice of the Fine Gael politician smacked of a “political handout.”
Cllr Jonathan O’Brien (Sinn Féin) said he didn’t so much object to Mr Barry but the devaluing of the honour itself.
“I hope we learn lessons from this year’s controversy. The freedom of the city should only be given out once every five years.”
Cllr Ted Tynan (Workers’ Party) said he understood a backroom deal had been done between the three parties that control the mayoral pact on Cork City Council to share the freedom of the city over the next four years. His claims were vehemently denied by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.
Fianna Fáil’s Terry Shannon rejected suggestions of a deal but the councillor admitted he was concerned about the process in place for the conferring of the freedom of the city and suggested it be radically overhauled. He requested that a simple majority be replaced by a need for 23 councillors to vote in favour of a particular individual receiving the award.
Peter Barry was born and educated in Cork. He served as tánaiste in 1987 and deputy leader of Fine Gael between 1979 and 1987 and from 1989 to 1993. He was also a minister for foreign affairs, the environment, transport and power, and education.