Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I referred to two aspects of this issue yesterday. First, I said I was opposed to the idea of a directly elected mayor and did not see evidence at any level of politics or community justifying it. Second, I said I was supportive of continuity for the chair. Senator Browne legitimately asked whether there was a conflict in what I had said. I suggest to him, through his colleague, that I do not believe the two views I hold are mutually exclusive. In fact they are complementary and compatible.

At Oireachtas level we have chosen never to go down the road of presidential elections for the Cathaoirleach or the Ceann Comhairle. I have never heard any justification as to why that should be the case, yet the system works well. As Members we would resent any suggestion that it should be left to the people to determine who should be our chairperson. That would apply equally to Members of the other House where I served for 15 years. I cannot contemplate Members there rushing to the barricades to support a presidential style election for Ceann Comhairle.

On the question of any fears or concerns people may have about the need for continuity to be embraced in a presidential style election, there are two examples in the Houses to support the view that one does not necessarily presuppose the other. We have a tradition here. To allay any concerns people may have about a chairman of a council providing continuity for the term or otherwise of the council, having been elected by its members, with respect I remind Members, in regard to the term of a Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, that the Seanad may, at any time, by resolution, of which seven clear days notice of motion has been given, remove the Cathaoirleach from office. We would never contemplate that in your case, but that power is available and could equally apply at council level.