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

I will add further clarity around the thinking about the three-quarters provision. Currently, if a CEO is to be removed, it requires three-quarters of the votes of the elected members in the chamber. The mayor will now take executive powers from the CEO; therefore, it fits in. That was the thinking at the time. Apart from setting a high bar, there is a basis for the three-quarters. It is because it applies to the CEO. The process is that two-thirds bring a motion and three-quarters must vote for it. It is then referred to the Minister, who sets up an independent review group. If that group finds the mayor should not be removed, that is the end of the matter. If it finds the mayor should be removed, it reports to the Minister, who has a decision to make whether to go with the recommendation or disagree with it. If the Minister disagrees, he or she is required to communicate to the Oireachtas, as well as the council, the reasons for it. A huge amount of work went into this with the Attorney General’s office, in terms of looking at it. It has come through a process.

The overall legislation is subject to review within the first three years but there is a logic to it. It is always about striking a balance. Nothing is perfect in life but it is about having a robust system based on a democratically elected mayor. It is new and sets a high bar but if a mayor is, going back to Deputy Quinlivan’s point, really out of order, the mechanisms are there to remove him or her, with various gates which, in the interests of fair play, are needed.