Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We said yesterday we would go through Schedule 1 and this is the appropriate time to do so. It was given that the purpose of the Bill is to extend real powers to an elected mayor. Part 1 of Schedule 1 sets out powers that are to be retained by this - “speaker” is what it is in English but the legislation provides for a “Príomh Chomhairleoir”. I propose the Minister of State explain every provision concerning powers which should not vest in a mayor. I would have thought the public would expect in voting for an elected mayor that the mayor would at least enjoy all the powers an existing mayor enjoys; in fact, there are several legislative provisions which are excluded from the powers of the mayor. Not alone does the mayor not have much additional power – as I would argue, though the Minister of State may argue differently – but he or she clearly will not even enjoy the powers the current mayor enjoys. If the Minister of State is selling something to the people on the basis that they will have a more powerful mayor of Limerick, it is a reasonable expectation that mayor will at least have all the power the current mayor enjoys. Will the Minister of State go through each of these sections and let the committee know what they relate to and why these powers enjoyed by the mayor of Limerick should not be enjoyed by an elected mayor of Limerick? It is an unusual construct, I would argue.