Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:"the Bill be deemed to be read a Second Time on 30 June, 2017, to allow for implementation of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of wider potential local government reform measures. The Programme provides that, having consulted widely with all relevant stakeholders, the Minister will, by mid-2017, prepare a report on such measures for Government and for the Oireachtas.".

I am pleased to participate in this debate, which comes at a time when the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, is advancing a process which will help inform and steer future reform of our local government structures. Any discussion that contributes to this process is welcome. We had this debate recently in the Seanad with Senator Kevin Humphreys. This is a welcome debate brought forward by Deputy Lahart. We had a similar debate several weeks ago about Airbnb. These are important issues which affect not just the cities but also growth centres such as our own in Navan, County Meath. We want to strengthen local government.

The programme for a partnership Government sets out several commitments on "the next wave of local government reform". This involves a report to the Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, as well as ensuring local government structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy. The programme also references some specific issues to be considered, including the directly-elected mayor concept.

I agree with Deputy Shane Cassells on the need to strengthen the position and powers of local authority members, having been on my local authority for a time. Our officials based in the Custom House are working with local authority members and executives to build a strong relationship. In our in stakeholder meetings and our meetings with local authorities across the country, we are keeping channels of communication open and strengthening working relationships. Part of that has to be strengthening local government. Key decision makers and directors of office are local authority members.

Work on foot of the programme commitment has commenced in the Department, with the aim of building on the measures in the Local Government Reform Act 2014. In the coming months, particular attention will be given by the Department to: measures to enhance leadership and accountability in local government, including: directly-elected mayors; action to widen and strengthen the role of local government, especially through devolution of functions from central to local level; measures to reinforce the effectiveness of the 2014 reforms to the local government system, such as the new municipal district structures, in light of a recent operational review; and consideration of issues around the establishment of town councils.

I understand and appreciate the intention behind the Bill, which seeks to put in place a process that will allow the electorate the opportunity to consider the establishment of a directly-elected mayor for Dublin. A consultation process would first be undertaken leading to proposals being presented to the Dáil and Seanad later in 2017 that would then require a positive resolution of both Houses before being put for decision in a plebiscite of the Dublin electorate to be held no later than May 2018. Provided the envisaged plebiscite is successful, the mayoral election would then be held in conjunction with the 2019 local elections. This is broadly consistent with commitments in the Government's programme to consider directly-elected mayors and further devolution of powers to local authorities.

The Bill before the House does not set out the range of functions that would be devolved to the directly-elected mayor. Neither does it set out how the establishment of such an office would affect existing local government arrangements and boundaries. There is also no reference to cost. However, the Bill does provide for a process whereby issues would be debated and decided upon by both Houses prior to a plebiscite being held. The process set out in the Bill is in some ways similar to the process legislated for by the previous Government under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, which also provided for a plebiscite of the Dublin electorate for the establishment of a directly-elected mayor for Dublin. However, this was contingent on securing the support of a majority of the elected members of each the four Dublin local authorities and, in this regard, it was ultimately unsuccessful.

Some concerns expressed about the previous proposal concerned the range of functions which could be assigned to a directly-elected mayor. How would these be prioritised by the mayor? There was uncertainty over how a directly-elected mayor would be held to account and the interface with the local authorities. This Bill provides that the powers and responsibilities to be assigned to a directly-elected mayor will be determined by the Houses. We must work to agree on a clear and fully developed proposal on how an office for a directly-elected mayor will function and operate in practice.

Departments and State agencies with responsibility for key public service functions that could be assigned to a directly-elected mayor must be actively involved in this process. Key stakeholders from the business, retail and tourism sectors, as well as the general public, should also have the opportunity to have an input. Deputy Lahart also has this in mind in the context of his legislation. The aim should be to have a broad, inclusive consultation process that allows robust proposals to be brought before the Houses for consideration within the framework of the commitments set out in the Government's programme. The Government is open to considering all workable proposals that will contribute to this process. We must also recognise the complexity of undertaking an ambitious reform of local government arrangements in Dublin.

The functions and responsibilities of a directly elected mayor could potentially be very broad in scope and require consequential change in public services in areas such as housing, transport, tourism, heritage and enterprise. The amendment we are putting forward will allow for the commitment in the programme for Government to consider directly elected mayors in cities to be implemented by mid-2017 and provides the appropriate context for advancing to consideration of legislation on this matter. I thank Deputy Lahart for bringing forward this Bill and I look forward to the future work in this area.

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