Results 801-820 of 4,573 for speaker:Brian Leddin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: Ms MacEvilly looked as though she was going to come in. Does she want to briefly make a contribution?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Brian Leddin: The witnesses will notice that the bells are ringing. We cannot hear them but it says "Vótáil" on the screens. We will suspend for the duration of the division and Mr. Gannon can come back in at that point.

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

Brian Leddin: Amendment No. 4 is to clarify that each councillor on Limerick City and County Council will get individual input into the review of the Act, rather than a compromise opinion from the council as a whole. That is important. On amendment No. 5, it is important that experts in local government have input into the process. It is a reasonable amendment to suggest that individuals would be...

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

Brian Leddin: I move amendment No. 4: In page 10, line 31, to delete "Limerick City and County Council" and substitute "members of Limerick City and County Council individually".

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

Brian Leddin: I move amendment No. 5: In page 10, line 31, after "forum" to insert the following: ", individuals with knowledge of, or expertise in, the administration of local government in Ireland and internationally".

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

Brian Leddin: I will speak to amendment No. 92. The Minister of State and my other colleagues from Limerick know that Limerick City and County Council very successfully operates a number of designated activity companies, DACs, in the form of Limerick 2030, which is doing excellent work. Another is the new tourism body and there are others. These companies are generally very effective. In the context of...

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

Brian Leddin: I have much sympathy for this amendment. I was very involved in the campaign in 2019 to support a "Yes" vote in the plebiscite. I was very proud to have been part of that campaign, as was Deputy Quinlivan. Limerick alone made that decision. Cork and Waterford were not brave enough and Limerick was. We said we were going to be the test bed for this really important reform of local...

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

Brian Leddin: I agree with Deputy Quinlivan’s comments. This is about the optimal performance of the functions of the mayor and giving the mayor the power to assemble his or her team. Again, I acknowledge that we are in somewhat uncharted territory. We must be true to the intent of the people of Limerick when they voted, albeit by a small margin, for Limerick to have a directly elected mayor....

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

Brian Leddin: I think we are trying to get to the same point here and I agree with the Minister of State. I would accept his-----

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

Brian Leddin: I thank the Minister of State. I think we are trying to get to the same point here. There is a fundamental question about the balance between the mayor and the director general in assembling a team. We have to be true to the vote in 2019, which was to give the mayor executive authority, insofar as possible, who would then be accountable to the people at election time. There is a potential...

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

Brian Leddin: The points have been clearly made by me and by colleagues. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would look at it with a view to getting to a form of words in the legislation that acknowledges the director general is certainly the person who appoints, but that the mayor should have a strong consultative role.

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

Brian Leddin: Yes, as regards staff in the mayor's office. I tabled amendment No. 95 which is related, but we might talk about it separately.

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

Brian Leddin: I will make a similar point about amendment No. 95. Acknowledging the HR function would rest with the director general, if we are trying to set this office up well the mayor should have a strong role, even if it is a consultative role - I do not suggest it should be a veto, but a prescribed consultative role - in the selection of the personnel for the team who will lead the various...

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

Brian Leddin: I move amendment No. 20: In page 20, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “ “Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy” means the strategy which sets out the framework for the delivery of the transport system of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area;”. Amendment No. 20 simply proposes to insert a definition of the Limerick-Shannon...

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

Brian Leddin: I thank the Minister of State for the response. I see the rationale he has set out. It is positive that at some point in the not-too-distant future, the transport strategy will be put on a statutory footing. It is important that when that happens, this legislation is married to it-----

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

Brian Leddin: -----so that the mayor, whoever that may be, can drive its implementation. There needs to be a strong mandate prescribed in the legislation to allow the mayor to pursue LSMATS when it is on a statutory footing.

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

Brian Leddin: I thank the Minister of State. I am happy to withdraw those amendments with the possibility of reintroducing them on Report Stage.