Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Under the general scheme, the selection of a special adviser is currently up to the elected mayor. The other staff complement of the office will come from the local authority section but he will have his choice of special adviser. This is something we can consider if the committee has views on it. I would be careful, however, of pigeonholing the new mayor by insisting that the person to be appointed should or should not have specific qualifications. It is a strong role in terms of a democratically elected mayor and he or she will want to ensure huge dividends for Limerick city and county in the context of shaping the future.