Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

In the absence of a specific date, could we end up with a situation where the legislation is going through the House, a date has been decided and the campaign is taking place on the doorsteps at the same time? The Minister is indicating that the election will take place before Christmas. It is quite a big Bill, although only the heads have been completed at this stage. It would be bizarre to debate legislation about a post that has yet to be created while an election is taking place.

Deputy Hogan referred earlier to the local authorities in Dublin. Any new position in politics requires power having to be derived from or put into that post. The Bill is unclear as to where those powers will be appropriated from. They can either come from councillors or managers. Can the Minister clarify where he sees those mayoral powers coming from?

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