Cork City Council · Ordinary Meeting of Cork City Council · 9 March 2026
A vote on a motion expressing concern at the low rate of economic growth across the European Union over the past two decades and calling on the Government to petition the European Commission for a clear and detailed strategy.
Summary written by AI from the minutes. The motion as recorded follows.
That Cork City Council expresses concern at the persistently low rate of economic growth across the European Union over the past two decades, particularly when compared with other major global economies. The GDP is averaging 1% per year, falling well behind China at 5% and America at 2.8%. When Ireland joined the EU, it was averaging 6%. Council calls on the Government of Ireland to formally petition the European Commission to provide a clear and detailed strategy outlining how it intends to significantly increase EU GDP growth in the coming years. This should include specific measures to improve competitiveness, attract investment, and raise productivity across member states. Council further requests clarity on what concrete steps the EU will take to reduce bureaucratic and regulatory burdens that are widely seen as constraining enterprise, innovation, and economic expansion.
Proposed by N. O’Flynn; seconded by K. McCarthy.
The minutes record: As those voting for the motion were less than those voting against, An tArdmhéara declared the vote and the motion defeated.
| Party | Tá | Níl | Staon | Didn't vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Fine Gael | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Sinn Féin | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Green Party | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Labour Party | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent Ireland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| People Before Profit-Solidarity | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Social Democrats | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Tá, Níl and Staon are the minutes’ for, against and abstained. “Didn’t vote” covers councillors on the council that day whom the minutes don’t list under any option, for any reason. Parties are as of the meeting day.