Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage

11:00 am

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Of course, I believe he or she should play a role, but that role should be set out by the elected members in consultation with the local community. We are all familiar with the difference between reserved and executive functions, the reserved functions being those elected councillors have in a local authority, with the executive functions being those of the unelected directors and managers. I am proposing in this instance - it should probably be the case in other instances too - that the power should be vested in the elected members. Contrary to what the Minister suggests, this would involve strengthening the powers of the elected members and, by extension, the influence of the public and creating a greater line of accountability because in a democracy the people in question can be replaced. In respect of the stakeholder group, it should comprise elected representatives, in other words, if a boat club or residents association-----