Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I entered office, it had already been taken on board. I inherited a general scheme and it was already recommended in that it had been adopted by the Government. It was not a call that I made in my role as Minister of State; it was already in a general scheme. This entails a Cabinet decision, and it is something that I, as Minister of State, have to implement. It could bring an added dimension and I do not see how it could be a negative. I see it as a positive. The mayor is to bring added value.

As referred to by Deputies Quinlivan and Leddin, we will have for the first time since the foundation of the State a mayor democratically elected by the people of Limerick. This will result in huge added value internationally. Visitors coming from abroad will now be visiting a democratically elected mayor in Limerick. It will also have added value for Clare. I involved the chief executive officer of Clare County Council on the transportation group because of considerations related to the Limerick–Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy. That is where it came out of.

In many cases, the practical aspects are as important as the legal ones because this has to work. We can beg to differ.