Results 2,081-2,100 of 26,006 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “ “Commission” means An Coimisiún Toghcháin;”. These amendments relate to the role of the Electoral Commission regarding the holding of future plebiscites and some minor consequential amendments. Part 6 of the Bill deals with the holding of plebiscites to consider...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 7 from my colleague in Limerick, Deputy Quinlivan, seeks to prevent the mayor from engaging in other paid employment during his or her term. The office of mayor of Limerick is a full-time role, and it will be a demanding one. The successful candidate will have a key role in driving progress across all aspects of local government for the people of Limerick city and county. ...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: We cannot accept the amendment. The logic is that Oireachtas Members can currently have other careers so the Bill is compatible with that. There are two relevant subsections, subsections (5) and (8). Subsection (5) states the position is full time and subsection (8) qualifies that by providing a person is "prohibited from engaging in any occupation which would interfere or be incompatible...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: While I am not promising anything, we will look at this again before Report Stage. We can work on the legislation in the spirit of partnership. We will look at this before Report Stage. Deputy Quinlivan may want to reserve the right to reintroduce his amendment on Report Stage.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I would have covered it anyway.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to address amendments Nos. 8 and 92, as they have been grouped together for discussion. Amendment No. 8 proposes to insert new subsections in section 10, which deals with the functions of the mayor. There are seven new subsections proposed and I will speak to each of these in turn. New subsection (6) proposes that the mayor would have an ambassadorial role in the promotion...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Absolutely.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I do. Members will appreciate that I always try to avoid votes. I have been a committee member for many years. This Bill-----

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

Kieran O'Donnell: We contend that much of what is in Deputy Quinlivan's amendment is in the Bill. The question is whether it can be clarified a bit more as we progress to Report Stage. It is a decision for Deputy Quinlivan. I like the consensus approach, although we might not agree on everything. It is very important that we put the position of the role of mayor in legislation that we can all get behind....

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I move amendment No. 9: In page 12, to delete lines 29 and 30 and substitute the following: "(c) upon the Mayor becoming disqualified for membership of a local authority or for holding the office of Mayor of Limerick under section 13, 13A or 182 of the Principal Act,". These amendments are linked and relate to the eligibility requirements to run in a mayoral election. The Bill...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I propose to address amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, together as they have been grouped for discussion. They relate to section 7 of the Bill, which provides a mechanism to review the operation of the legislation after a three year period. Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 propose to reduce the period within which a review should be conducted by the Minister after the office of the mayor is...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: It is purely to give context. We are working through all areas of legislation that remain with the mayor. We obviously have to go across all Departments. We have almost concluded but we want to bring it as a full entity and we will bring it on Report Stage.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Okay. I always look to see whether we can find a process to work through. The backbone of the legislation for me, and I have gone through it, is that there is no blueprint for a directly elected mayor working anywhere in the world. I have read much, but no doubt I have not read everything. I have seen many that have failed, however. Bristol and Liverpool are both reversing their decision...