Richard Shakespeare, the council chief executive, confirmed that a council member from Dublin city is currently under scrutiny for potential violations of the ethical code for local governments. Speaking at a comprehensive council meeting on Tuesday, Mr Shakespeare brought up the topic of public safety and rampant misinformation, prompting the council to convene.
The proposal for this meeting came from Barry Heneghan, an Independent councillor, over concerns primarily focused on misinformation proliferation, especially concerning immigration. A recent incident in Finglas, where the gardaí assisted a man with poor English proficiency, was a significant trigger for him. Following this event, the garda issued a public notice for everyone to be cautious of circulating misinterpretations via social networks and messaging apps. They underscored the need for everyone, including the public, media, and public representatives, to diligently confirm the credibility of sources for accurate information.
Cllr Heneghan pointed to a rising trend of deceptive storylines, particularly on specific social media platforms. He claimed that such platforms were increasingly becoming avenues for spreading vitriolic and politically biased immigration narratives, fostering a sense of racial prejudice and societal discord. He emphasised the responsibility of the councillors to unite against such harmful misinformation and racially charged rhetoric, which he believes are threatening public safety.
In response to a query by Labour councillor Dermot Lacey about any ongoing investigations into complaints, Mr Shakespeare confirmed that a formal grievance about the violation of the Local Government Act by a council member might warrant examination. Once the council suspects a breach and believes it exists, they further escalate it to an official probe led by an external professional.
Sinn Féin representative Janice Boylan emphasised the importance of curbing false news, highlighting the need for community leaders to adhere to elevated standards. Those intentionally circulating untruths should be strongly reprimanded, she affirmed.
Conor Reddy from the People Before Profit party shared about a racially motivated incident involving a minor at a playground, attributing it as a direct result of the hatred propagated both within the council and on the streets.
Independent representative Cieran Perry dubbed the spread of false information as harmful, and responsible for fostering the darkest aspects of human conduct. He pointed out the threat posed by the far right, which feeds off of social media platforms, and the centre-right parties, linking immigration to housing and homelessness issues based on unfounded information.
Pat Dunne, also an Independent representative, contended that the far-right seemed blind to their role in executing the blueprint of the establishment. Green Party representative Janet Horner challenged the council’s decision to use certain social media platforms known for fuelling community discord.
The Social Democrats’ representative for East Wall, Daniel Ennis, observed a decline in anti-immigrant activities, nonetheless, he identified continued efforts from a few individuals, both within the community and council, seeking to propagate division. Asserting that hate won’t triumph in the end.
Independent councillor Gavin Pepper identified himself as a victim of false news regarding allegations of his associations with terrorism and being a landlord. He also started addressing the topic of missing children in state care but appeared uncertain about his standpoint.
Councillor Malachy Steenson alleged that all political parties in the council were guilty of spreading misinformation. However, he fell short of apologising for his comments when asked by Councillor Dunne.
Ultimately, councillors from all political affiliations agrred on the necessity to stand together against the spread of misinformation. Tune into our Inside Politics podcast for more political discussions and analysis.