4 June 2013
Video – Alex Maskey recalls past as Máirtín Ó Muilleoir becomes Belfast's new mayor
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir in City Hall with Cllrs Deirdre Hargey and former mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile
'Striving to create jobs and doing all I can to help put the city's economy back on track, we have to ensure that our working-class communities enjoy a greater share of the peace dividend'
MÁIRTÍN Ó MUILLEOIR of Sinn Féin is Belfast's new mayor under the d'Hondt power-sharing system. Máirtín pledged that jobs and mutual respect for both the unionist and republican communities of the city will be his priorities.
He has been a councillor for the Balmoral area of south Belfast since 2011.
The managing director of the Belfast Media Group and publisher of the Irish Echo in New York, Máirtín was a Sinn Féin councillor from 1987 to 1997 before standing down to build up his media business interests.
During his City Hall tenure, he initiated a series of court actions successfully challenging discriminatory practices and policies, helping to lay the foundations for the modern, power-sharing council.
He has announced that the portraits of the British royal family will remain in the Mayor’s Parlour to reflect Belfast’s unionist tradition along with the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
He said at Monday night’s council meeting:
“I am picking up from Gavin Robinson of the DUP, who has had a great year in office.
“In the year ahead, I want the help of all our citizens to make Belfast better. My theme for my year in office will be ‘Building the future Belfast – together.'
“First and foremost, that means building the peace and working hard to bring our sometimes divided people together. It also means striving to create jobs and doing all I can to help put the city's economy back on track.
“And, of course, in all our work we have to ensure that our working-class communities enjoy a greater share of the peace dividend.”
Other council news
Phil Flanagan MLA reports that Sinn Féin’s Barry Doherty has been elected vice-chair of Fermanagh District Council.
Barry McElduff MLA says that Sinn Féin is to assume chairs in Strabane and Omagh Councils on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
See more pictures »
Follow us on Facebook
An Phoblacht on Twitter
An Phoblacht Podcast
Uncomfortable Conversations
An initiative for dialogue
for reconciliation
— — — — — — —
Contributions from key figures in the churches, academia and wider civic society as well as senior republican figures
