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

There was some discussion on Committee Stage in the Seanad about the importance of ensuring the membership of the delivery board and the transport subgroup of that board includes a person who has relevant climate expertise. More generally, we discussed how to reflect the role of the mayor in relation to climate matters in the new structures under the Bill. I indicated that I would consider the issue in the round. Subsequently, I introduced amendments on Report Stage in the Seanad to address this matter, which we are discussing in this grouping.

Amendment No. 6 and amendments Nos. 9 to 14, inclusive, propose changes to sections 33 and 34, which relate to the Limerick Project Ireland 2040 delivery board and the transport subgroup of that board. Amendments Nos. 9 and 12 are similar in nature and propose that when the mayor is appointing persons to the delivery board and to the transport subgroup, he or she will consult the EPA to ensure that a person with the relevant climate expertise is on each committee. Section 33 relates to the Project 2040 delivery board and section 34 relates to the transport subgroup.

Amendments Nos. 11 and 14 are similar in nature and propose that both the delivery board and transport subgroup, chaired by the mayor, would have a role in supporting the implementation of the climate action plan for Limerick. As the transport subgroup is a subcommittee of the delivery board, it is appropriate that these requirements apply to both committees.

Amendment No. 6 proposes a definition in section 29 of the Bill for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, referenced in a number of these amendments. Amendments Nos. 10 and 13 are minor technical drafting amendments that are consequential to the substantive amendments. I trust that Members will support these amendments.

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