Results 6,321-6,340 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: That is the point at which we will go through the contents of those Schedules.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: If I choose.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: That is the appropriate time to go through them.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: To be clear, on Committee Stage, we are discussing setting up an office of a mayor without having any finalisation of what the powers-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: It is there but it is subject to change.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: It is almost subject to change but not subject to change.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: In any event, we will discuss the Schedule, which is arguably the most important thing and is almost subject to change, at a later time in this meeting.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: So there is hope that the powers will not be quite as emasculated as they are set out in Schedule 1.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: Ministers can.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: Sorry.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: The Deputy is very welcome. Anytime.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: The Minister of State said the mayor will bring the development plan and budget.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: This section is basically to cover an eventuality in which there is a mayor who says, "To hell with the development plan and budget, I am going to Honolulu." If he or she is not bothered with stuff like the powers he or she has, he or she can just give them back to the unelected CEO. Is that what it is for or is it if the mayor is somehow incapacitated? Is it if they just decide to go on...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: On a serious note. If the Minister of State sets up an office with no powers, it is quite possible somebody might take-----.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: I could. It might be well advised, given the powers set out in this Bill.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: The Minister of State spoke of the importance of collaboration and said the mayor will essentially sit as a 41st councillor. I am confused as to why, given the mayor is required to do all this, there is a separate chairman of the council. The mayor has certain powers, the director general has certain powers and there is still a chairman of the council. The mayor will sit in the council and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: I will withdraw the comment for the simple reason that the current local authority is making great inroads on derelict sites. I will give it that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: It is. I accept that completely.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: Limerick is a city which has not been well served by local government. I do not mean the unelected representatives but decisions made by elected representatives over the years. However, we are not here to discuss the past. We can do that somewhere else.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McNamara: Please do.