Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 11, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:

"(a) Furthermore, the Mayor shall not engage in any other type of paid employment during their term of office.".

We feel strongly about this amendment. We believe that if the position is to be truly transformative for local democracy, the position of the mayor must be the sole focus of anybody elected. We do not want to allow for other employment during the term of office. It would be a definite signal to the electorate that this is not a role that has much value and it would diminish the role. We believe that if this office it is to have value, it must be the single focus for any elected mayor. The removal of any opportunity for a trade or other occupational opportunities will ensure the integrity of the position is maintained. The concern we have is that the legislation allows for somebody to be elected and to delegate all the functions and have a second job as well. That would destroy not just the position of the directly elected mayor in Limerick but the potential for it to be rolled out in other local authorities if they were to see that happen in Limerick. That is the reason we tabled this amendment. I note that Deputy Murphy's amendment falls.