Results 1,401-1,420 of 26,006 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sections 10 and 11 are related.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will speak on amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, and amendment No. 32, which have been grouped for discussion. These amendments dealing with a miscellaneous amendment and consequential amendments to the Long Title, collective citation and commencement provisions. The miscellaneous amendment inserts a new provision into Part 8 of the Bill. It will amend the Land Development Agency Act...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senators Cummins, Boyhan and Fitzpatrick for their contributions and support. I make the point to Senator Cummins that although the LDA has the capacity to borrow under the LDA Act, with prevailing rates, that is not possible. What we are doing here is putting a measure in place. We have already increased the equity stake from €1.25 billion to €2.5 billion in terms of...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The amendment seeks to expand the focus of the review of the Act. This will include identifying potential additional reserved functions for the elected council by assessing where powers of the mayor and the elected members intersect. I highlight that the purpose of this section is to allow for review of the operational effectiveness of this historic legislation. As the focus of the review...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments Nos. 5 and 6 relate to executive functions of the mayor and were both discussed on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 5 proposes that the function of a director general in Schedule 1, Part 2 may be conferred on the mayor by resolution of the elected council. Again, I emphasise that the mayor would be responsible for many of the executive functions of Limerick City and County Council....

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: This amendment, tabled by the Civil Engagement Group, was discussed on Committee Stage. It seeks to clarify that the mayor is accountable to the elected members for performance of his or her functions. I appreciate the Senators' intentions but reiterate the elected council will retain its primacy and the Bill does not change that. The elected members will have an important oversight role...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Section 27 proposes the mayor may delegate in writing certain functions to the director general. This applies only to functions that transfer from the chief executive to the mayor when the latter assumes office. The amendment requires the elected members of Limerick City and County Council are notified when a function is being delegated to the director general or when a delegation is being...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Within this grouping, the Civil Engagement Group tabled a number of amendments to section 32, related to the delivery board, which I would like to address first. Amendments Nos. 20 to 22, inclusive, propose to increase the ex officiomembers of the board to include members of An Taisce, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Irish Wildlife Trust. As I outlined on Committee Stage, the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the contribution from Senator Boyhan. I also acknowledge the contribution to the debate by Senator Higgins in this regard. The amendments we are putting forward in this area will add constructively to the overall tenet of the Bill.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will speak to amendments Nos. 12 and 14 to 18, inclusive, from the Civil Engagement Group and Government amendment No. 19 as they relate to the mayoral advisory and implementation committee and have been grouped for discussion. Amendment Nos. 14 to 16, inclusive, relate to membership of the committee and seek to mandate representatives of An Taisce, the environmental pillar and the Irish...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is healthy. We will take the amendment very much in the spirit in which it was tabled. I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is proposed to amend section 31 (4) regarding the mayoral programme. The mayor must present a draft of their mayoral programme for consideration by elected members of the council meeting. As drafted, the members would have to receive a copy of the draft seven days before the meeting, but the amendment will extend that period to 14 days. The Civil Engagement Group proposed a similar...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator and the other Members for their support and co-operation. Obviously, it is healthy for legislation to be debated.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: As mentioned, following discussion on Committee Stage about the importance of including on the transport subgroup a person who has relevant climate expertise, I have proposed a number of amendments to section 34 that I believe fully address the matter. Amendment No. 26 proposes that where the mayor is appointing a person to the transport subgroup, they will consult the EPA to ensure someone...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Higgins for her contribution and co-operation. I also thank Senator Boyhan for delivering that key message.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I also-----

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----acknowledge the presence and contribution of Senator Craughwell, which is hugely important.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank both Senator Boyhan and Senator Craughwell. I assure Senator Boyhan that I am always looking to improve the Bill. I reflected on everything when we were having the debate. I was of the opinion that it was covered. I went back and looked at the Bill again. Putting in the amendment, which in substance is what he provided, further strengthens the Bill. It puts front and centre the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to speak to amendments Nos. 33 and 34. Government amendment No. 33 adds sections 117 and 118(4) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 to the Schedule 1, Part 2 functions of the director general. This Act has just recently come into being so the amendment was not possible at an earlier Stage. The functions under section 117 relate to appointing staff and the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to acknowledge the phenomenal work of the officials. There are two present but there is a larger team. They have done extraordinary work on this Bill. It is ground-breaking, historic and a new dawn for Limerick in terms of local politics. I acknowledge the major positive contribution from the elected members and the executive of Limerick City and County Council. Change is never...