Results 281-300 of 4,419 for speaker:Maurice Quinlivan

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

Maurice Quinlivan: I only addressed a portion of it. There are other parts to our amendment that I would like to address now. The mayor should have responsibility for advertising and promoting Limerick. A directly elected mayor with real powers would have a level of influence and clout that other elected members, such as Deputies and Senators, do not have at the moment. The prestige of the position makes it...

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

Maurice Quinlivan: I will press the amendment because on this occasion, I disagree fundamentally with the Minister of State. He spoke about what the people of Limerick voted for in 2019 but I do not think this is what has been delivered. The Minister of State at the time, Deputy Phelan, had a much more ambitious aim and this was what the people of Limerick were led to be believe would be introduced. I am not...

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

Maurice Quinlivan: On that point, Chair, we have not had a vote in three years.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. I am not a person who likes calling a vote as I chair a committee. I may be wrong but I believe that what the people voted for in 2019 was a mayor who would have different powers and additional powers. Unfortunately I do not see it in the Bill. This is why we-----

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

Maurice Quinlivan: I move amendment No. 13: In page 15, line 21, to delete “The director general” and substitute “The Mayor". We feel this is a very important amendment. We believe that because this is a new position, we have to get it right. If we get it right, other people will replicate what we are trying to do in Limerick. It should be a beacon for people; it should not turn...

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

Maurice Quinlivan: To clarify, we will accept the position whereby the new mayor, whoever he or she may be, will accept the four people from the existing staff members, but we should also give an opportunity for the existing staff members to get a promotion. It should not necessarily have to be the director of services or have the experience, knowledge or whatever-----

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

Maurice Quinlivan: Yes. The office of mayor - correct me if I am wrong - is going to have five staff-----

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

Maurice Quinlivan: That is legislated for and, over many pages in the Bill, that job and role is defined, with details on who the person can be, what their experience needs to be or whatever-----

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

Maurice Quinlivan: Yes. The other four people will be appointed from existing staff members.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: The problem we have is with the director general doing that although, as I said, I have the utmost respect for the present CEO of Limerick City and County Council, who will automatically become the director general. Even so, other councils would like to replicate what we are doing. I tabled 14 amendments to the Bill and the two most important ones are the one we called a vote on earlier and...

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

Maurice Quinlivan: The legislation does not say that, however, and that is the problem and the basis of our amendment. In fact, the director general will appoint people.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: With the exception of the mayor's office, we do not have a problem with that. That is at it should be and there are other functions that should not be with the mayor.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: That is not the case under the legislation. The legislation clearly provides that the director general will appoint them.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: That is not what the legislation states.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: Okay. What will the Minister of State be looking at?

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

Maurice Quinlivan: Okay. What we will have to see is a stronger role for the mayor in the legislation.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: In fairness, we cannot change the director general’s role. That is not how it has been legislated for. On that basis, I will call a vote.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: I was disappointed with what the Minister of State said because I did not reference the other employees or staff of the council.

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

Maurice Quinlivan: In my amendment it was clearly stated that the new-----

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

Maurice Quinlivan: Deputy Cian O'Callaghan said quite well that we are looking at what is in the legislation and at what it clearly states. That is why we will push this amendment.