Results 1,361-1,380 of 26,006 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is indeed a historic day for Limerick. This is something I am incredibly proud to have brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Limerick is really leading the way. This is probably one of the most significant reforms in local government since the foundation of the State. The legislation also allows for plebiscites for all local authorities. We hope that many will take up this...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: You lead and we will follow.

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will speak to amendments Nos. 23 to 48, inclusive, which are grouped together for discussion. These are amendments to the existing tables in Part 1 and Part 2 of Schedule 1, which list the functions of the Príomh Chomhairleoir and the director general, respectively. Amendment No. 23 deletes section 74(1)(b) as a function of the Príomh Chomhairleoir. Section 74 provides that a...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 7 proposes to amend section 31(4) regarding the mayoral programme. The mayor must present a draft of their mayoral programme for consideration by the elected council at a council meeting. As currently drafted, the members would receive a copy of the draft mayoral programme seven days before the meeting. This amendment would extend that period to 14 days. This issue was...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 8 adds two new functions to the mayoral advisory and implementation committee at paragraphs (d) and (g) of section 32(5). These are in the areas of nature, biodiversity and sustainability and regeneration projects in Limerick. There is also some re-ordering of paragraphs. That is the technical point. The importance of having regard to nature, biodiversity and...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is a slight clarification to that point. Currently under section 154 of the Local Government Act 2001, the CEO can delegate functions to staff within the local authority. However, the CEO continues to be responsible for those activities. Similarly, we made an amendment to the legislation whereby the mayor is entitled to delegate the carrying out of functions to the DG, which was the...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will go through the points made by Deputy Quinlivan. I am conscious that people voted by plebiscite to bring in a directly elected mayor, but 48% of the people of Limerick had reservations and voted against it. We need to bring those people with us. In regard to staff, we tabled an amendment on Report Stage in the Dáil. This was something that Deputies Quinlivan and Mitchell and...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have debated this at length. This Bill has had 20 hours of debate - four days in the Dáil and four days in the Seanad. We can agree to differ. We have put in place something that will bring about a very good mayor. It is based on what the public voted for. Certain functions stay with the CEO, now to be called the director general. Amendment No. 5 specifically is about being...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: 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...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will speak to amendments Nos. 3, 4, 15 to 18, inclusive, 21 and 49 to 55, inclusive. These are minor technical and drafting amendments. Amendments No. 3 and 4 to sections 23 and 25 aim to ensure a consistency of language across various sections. Amendments No. 15 to 18, inclusive, and 21 to existing sections 65 and 66 are of a technical drafting nature and there is no change to the...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Regarding amendment No. 5, section 27 provides that the mayor may delegate in writing certain of his or her functions to the director general. This applies only to the functions that transferred from the chief executive to the mayor when he or she assumed office. This amendment requires that the elected members of Limerick City and County Council are notified when a function has been...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is about delegate functions.

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: From the Seanad (28 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: To be helpful, it is about delegate functions.