Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to clarify that I as an Oireachtas Member from Limerick did not receive any notification looking for written submissions. Maybe not everybody received it and I just want to make that point. I am not taking it as an insult; perhaps there was just a mistake made along the way. I cannot confirm whether everybody else received a notification.

I thank the speakers because many positive proposals have been put forward today. I may have answered Dr. O'Malley wrong earlier when he was speaking about counties Clare and Tipperary.

I see Limerick as the driver for the region, and that goes back to a point Mr. Moran made about the regional assembly. While it will drive Limerick, it has to be concerned with the region. With Shannon Airport and the port both on our doorstep, it is important that there be some inclusivity or connection with it.

Picking up on two points that were made, Senator Cummins spoke about a deputy speaker or príomh comhairleoir. That is important. As for the councillors, who are directly elected, it is important that that position be put in as a recommendation.

Another issue I picked up on while other speakers were contributing is that housing should be brought under the auspices of the directly elected mayor because local authorities did not build for a long time. Perhaps there should be a specific housing build policy for each county. Perhaps one of the witnesses would comment on that.

Overall, it has been an informative session. It is an honour that I will be one of only five female mayors to have served from Limerick under the old system, but I welcome and want to embrace the new system that is coming in.