Live Steam Offaly County Council Meetings

I am writing to you to express my strong support for Cllr. Masterson’s motion to live stream all meetings of Offaly County Council.

The recent Presidential Election showed that many people across Ireland, and especially Offaly, are frustrated with how politic works.

The high number of spoiled and invalid votes reflected not apathy, but a sense of disconnection and belief that voices are not being heard and that real accountability is missing.

People are losing faith that their input matters — especially at local level where decisions often have the biggest impact on daily life.

If the public cannot easily see or follow what their council is doing, it is no surprise that trust continues to erode. 

Live streaming council meetings is a straightforward way to begin rebuilding that trust. 

It would open up local decision-making to everyone — not through filtered reports or summaries, but by allowing people to see what is really said and done in their name.

Live streaming meetings would:

This small but important step would show a genuine commitment to openness and accountability — and a recognition that people deserve to see how their representatives act on their behalf.

Many other local authorities across Ireland already provide live streaming as a basic public service. 

It is time for Offaly County Council to do the same.

I am calling on you, as my elected representative, to support Cllr. Masterson’s motion to make Offaly County Council meetings accessible to everyone through live streaming.