Cork City Council last night voted to instruct its chief executive to seek a judicial review of the administrative process underlying the report by the Cork Local Government Review Group, which last week recommended to government that Cork City and County Councils should merge.

The controversial recommendation, which was itself opposed by two of the five-member group, has also spilt the business and political community in Cork. 

Business leaders such as Independent Newspapers, Chairman, Leslie Buckley and developer Michael O’ Flynn support the merger.

While in an interview with Newstalk's Breakfast Business, developer Owen O’ Callaghan said he would consider moving his business from Cork to Dublin if it proceeds with the joining of the councils.

Ernest Cantillon, a former President of the Cork Business Association, also disagrees with the proposed changes: "In terms of tourism, the city and county is totally fragmented and there are so many vested interests and bureaucracy between the councils that we all just give up. The wasted potential is heartbreaking."

According to the Irish Examiner this morning, Cork City Council, is also expected to become the first local authority to challenge the constitutionality of government policy in relation to merging local councils