Results 1,521-1,540 of 26,018 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sorry.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: To give context, under the climate action legislation - to give it its formal name the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015 - section 14B of that Act requires that all local authorities are now required under a statutory basis to prepare climate action plans. Limerick City and County Council are currently preparing theirs. It is about to be finalised. It went out on...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have given a commitment on that.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 81 proposes adding a new section in the Bill to empower the mayor of Limerick to apply for EU funding on behalf of Limerick City and County Council. Currently, EU funding applications are signed by the figures with the legal status to sign on behalf of their organisation, and this is in line with guidance issued by the European Commission. There is currently nothing in the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: If I may, I would also like to acknowledge a former Member of the Houses, former Deputy Mary Upton, was previously in the Gallery about ten minutes ago and she left.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 82 proposes a new section authorising, subject to council approval, the mayor to enter into co-operation agreements with cities and municipalities in any country for the benefit of diplomatic, cultural, environmental, social and economic relationships. The amendment also proposes that co-operation of this nature can focus on participating in European Union projects. There is...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Absolutely. The mayor is a member of the chamber, it is 40 plus 1. He or she is accountable to the chamber and is in essence taking up a senior role within the chamber. He or she will be bringing forward proposals. Once again, it is hugely important in the spirit of co-operation and looking at local authorities around the world where having a directly elected mayor has worked, they have...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: If I may explain, it was put to the people that certain activities, such as staffing, administration of schemes, housing and general operational matters, would remain with the CEO. The CEO will continue to be the accounting officer, very similar to a Secretary General of a Department. Everything else moves to the mayor. The mayor will be responsible for bringing the annual budget to the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The director general. It is a change of title

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is the same role. Dare I say it, we can always look for the negative. The role was designed and put to the people. There is a similar role and relationship between a Secretary General of a Department, who is the Accounting Officer, and the Minister. It is virtually identical. This is a significant shifting of powers from the CEO, who will now be called the director general, to the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator lived there for many years. He knows the city very well. I acknowledge the Senator's bona fides in the matter. There is one key element that was not discussed. There will still be the chamber of 40 councillors who have reserve functions. The mayor will be bringing proposals to the chamber. Their role remains unaffected, but it means that the mayor can drive policy on...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 83 proposes to place a statutory obligation on the mayor to act in a manner consistent with achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals, with a particular emphasis on goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities. It is important to note that Ireland's second National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals 2022-2024 was developed in...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: As an important aside to Senator Boyhan, if we can assist that particular couple in any way in my Department, I ask the Senator to give me their details and we can follow it up for him. People with disabilities are a subject of great importance that falls under my remit in housing. We brought out our national strategy for housing people with disabilities and I have published an...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that Thomond College?

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senators very much for their contributions. I will speak to amendment No. 85 in the names of Senators Boyhan and Keogan. This amendment proposes to insert a new section into the Bill which would give the mayor responsibility for the administration and implementation of Limerick regeneration projects. It also proposes that an annual report would be submitted to the elected...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is no guillotine here.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator should correct the record on that point. There is no guillotine here.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Anyone who knows me knows that implementation and substance are hugely important to me. I note the genuineness of the amendments that have been put forward. I am trying to work in real time. I want to listen to the Members here. If I am looking through legislation it is because I am actively trying to process what Members are saying. Anyone who knows me knows that is my approach. I have...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Again, it is about substance for me. I will give a commitment to look at the proposal. Senator Boyhan will make his own decision on how to proceed. My role, as a Minister of State and as a TD representing Limerick city, is to make sure this legislation works. What I put forward to the Senator is based on what I believe the situation to be. However, I give a commitment to look at his...